Fifteen young Caymanians graduated from Passport2Success in August after completing a summer programme combining employment training and personal development.

The Cohort 41 graduation ceremony was held at the George Town Yacht Club. Participants trained in customer service, teamwork, communication and presentation skills while developing confidence and workplace professionalism.

Passport2Success, known as P2S, is run by the Ministry of Education and Training through its National Training and Development Unit in partnership with The Wellness Centre.

The six-week programme ran from 13 July to 21 August. Applications were open to Caymanians aged 15 to 18 in compulsory education, including students at public and private schools, as well as school leavers who were not returning for the next academic year.

The labour-market backdrop is mixed. The Caymanian unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO)’s Fall 2025 survey, from 4.6% a year earlier, with 1,045 Caymanians classified as unemployed. People aged 15 to 24 accounted for 46.9% of that group, compared with 37.3% in 2024. ESO said most of the young jobseekers were still in training while looking for work.

That 46.9% figure represents the age distribution of unemployed Caymanians; it is not the unemployment rate among young people. The official review also does not isolate recent graduates.

Its educational breakdown showed that 72.4% of unemployed Caymanians had high-school education as their highest qualification in 2025. A further 13.6% had post-secondary education and 11.3% had college or university education, with the remainder at primary level or below.

ESO said unemployment could persist even in a strong economy because of job-search costs, skills mismatches and information barriers. It identified employer expectations, limited affordable childcare, health issues, cultural expectations and the cost of accepting some jobs as possible factors requiring further Cayman-specific research.

The review also said work placements, internships and career guidance could help graduates who lack paid experience or the specialised skills employers require.

Education and Training Minister Rolston Anglin MP said P2S had been established to address the transition from school into employment.

“This programme was launched to fill a gap in the transition of young people from compulsory school to the world of work,” Anglin said at the ceremony.

He encouraged the graduates to continue investing in themselves and to carry the lessons from the programme into the next stage of their lives.

Kyle Watler, one of this year’s graduates, told The Caymanian Journal that the most noticeable change for him was greater confidence when speaking to unfamiliar people.

“Before joining P2S, I was someone who was afraid to socialise with people I didn’t know, but the programme helped me build my confidence and step outside my comfort zone,” Watler said.

He said P2S also gave participants a clearer understanding of workplace expectations and helped them identify potential job opportunities, including part-time work for students continuing their education.

“The programme also helped us find job opportunities, especially for students who wanted to work part-time while continuing their education,” he said. “It gave us real-world experience and prepared us for what to expect in the workplace.”

Watler said the programme’s value extended beyond employment preparation. He formed new friendships and credited Shannon Seymour and Monet Whitter of The Wellness Centre with supporting and encouraging the participants.

Seymour, director of The Wellness Centre, said the ceremony represented more than the completion of a summer course. Participants had chosen to spend part of their holiday learning new skills, meeting people and trying activities that might previously have intimidated them, she said.

“Today, we celebrate how far they have come and look forward to where they are going next,” Seymour said.

Graduates received certificates, while awards recognised perfect attendance, peer choice and the most outstanding male and female participants.

The ministry’s release did not provide employment or internship placement figures for Cohort 41. For the previous cohort, the ministry said several participants received offers of full-time, part-time or school-break employment after taking part in industry placements.

Watler said he would welcome the chance to repeat the experience.

“If I had the opportunity to participate in P2S every summer, I definitely would,” he said.