Bouncing Back: An Address By Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo

The new year is starting off with good news. According to the latest reports from the Department of Labor, unemployment on Guam is at the lowest rate in three years. Better yet, average weekly earnings are up. Compared to September last year, Guam saw an increase of 550 jobs.

The folks at DOL, like its Chief Economist Gary Hiles, have been great at producing this critical information. This includes rates of unemployment and wages. These are critical tools that show how our economy is doing. And according to Mr. Hiles, Guam’s economy is doing better compared to last year. In addition to providing this information, DOL and AHRD also help Guamanians find the right job for your skills and interests.

If you, or someone you know is looking for a job, or need help finding the right one, call the One Stop Career Center at 475-7000 or the Guam Employment Service at 475-7138. These two numbers will give you all the information you need about job openings, training, and assistance to get started on a career path that’s right for you. Finding a job can be tough, but your GovGuam family at DOL and AHRD are ready and willing to help. You can help Guam grow just by picking up the phone.

Ray and I are committed to building a strong economy here, driven by a skilled workforce. Unemployment may be lower, but we will not rest on our laurels. We will keep pushing for initiatives to dramatically grow our economy, like allowing Chinese visitors to visit Guam visa-free. We will also push for more investment into Guam. We will remain aggressive on local government construction projects, and will keep facilitating the Federal projects as well. We’ll get your tax refunds out so money can keep circulating in the economy. And as military construction increases, we will be diligent in capturing all the tax revenue Guam is entitled to.

We’re on the right track, but there is a lot of hard work ahead of us. And much of that hard work involves cutting government spending. I’m confident your fellow public servants will see that a strong private sector will do more for this economy than a bloated government. I’m hopeful they will see how timely tax refund payments help your families.

Guam is bouncing back, and if we all come together, we can reach our greatest heights. Imagine a Guam where everyone has a job they care about. Imagine being able to earn a comfortable living. This is not a pipe dream – it’s the vision that Ray and I are working to fulfill.

Let’s keep imagining a greater Guam. We’re already setting new standards and higher benchmarks. Let’s stay focused on our goals.

Our island is resilient because our people are strong. This administration is here to help you.

Thank you, and may all Guamanians have a blessed and successful new year.