THE CNMI Department of Labor hosted a job fair on Friday, July 25, at the Marianas Beach Resort, drawing over 30 employers and dozens of island residents interested in applying for work.
Trades positions remain the most in-demand job openings in the CNMI.
According to Variety news files, the top five job vacancies in the CNMI for the third quarter of FY 2025 are:
Installation, maintenance, and repair — 1,639 openings
Construction and extraction — 829 openings
Food preparation and serving — 586 openings
Personal care and service — 451 openings
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance — 420 openings
CNMI Labor Secretary Leila Staffler said the shortage of workers in the trades has been a long-standing issue.
“Construction [positions] have typically been in the top five job vacancies posted on the [Department of Labor] website, and today we do have several of those industries present, looking for workers,” she said. “Economy of scale is the main issue. We have a lot of projects, but we don’t have the population base to meet the demand that exists. This is not new — this has been the case since the 1980s. Today, the trend hasn’t changed. The only difference between now and then is that we’ve truly been investing in education and training.”
According to Variety news files, the NMI has been hiring foreign workers since at least the Trust Territory era. Workforce education and training programs also existed at that time.
Staffler said while the CNMI will likely continue to need foreign labor in industries such as healthcare, it is equally important to continue training locals for skilled trades positions.
“There are some industries that are highly skilled and will require foreign labor, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she said. “But we should also invest in local labor and give people here the skills — because we need work too.”
She added that Northern Marianas Technical Institute has expanded local access to trades education. When asked about trades training in the Public School System, Staffler said:
“In general, because we are such a small place, we have to diversify what we offer. Not every kid is going to go to college. Not every kid is going to sit in an office. Some people like working outdoors — and if we provide them training that gives them a solid foundation so they can do something they love and make good money, why not?”
Staffler said CNMI DOL has workforce programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Workforce Investment Agency to upskill local workers. In addition, NMTech, Northern Marianas College, and Island Training Solutions offer workforce training programs that can be supported by local scholarships and CNMI DOL assistance. Some programs are also open to employers.
A lot cheaper
“Invest in yourself,” Staffler said. “Get certifications — that will make you more employable and increase your earning potential. Businesses don’t always reject people because they lack experience. Join our programs and let us help pay for training so you can gain that experience. It’s a lot cheaper to hire a local worker than to hire a foreign worker, and we can help offset the cost through our training programs. We also connect people with scholarship offices and other resources.”
Staffler noted that trades education is currently funded through CW fees, but unless extended by the federal government, the CW program ends in 2029, which means new funding sources will be needed.
“We need a new way to make sure we continue to support education in the trades — and education and certifications overall,” she said. “We’ve never been able to afford to wait.”
At Saipan World Resort’s booth, a flyer listed openings for a cook, baker, electrician, mechanic, HVAC technician, power plant operator, and information systems technician.
Joel Flores, representing the resort, said those positions are full time and essential to resort operations.
“These workers are mostly here to maintain the facilities — and we’re open 24/7, so that’s a must,” he said. “They’re essential to keeping the generators running during typhoons, keeping the A/C on in guest rooms, and just making sure things don’t break down.”
Flores said NMTech graduates had already submitted their résumés and applications at the fair.
At the Seafix booth, available positions included general maintenance and repair worker, marine diesel mechanic, and marine electrician. Josh Dandan of Seafix said pay for trades workers varies based on experience and certification, but generally exceeds $20 per hour, with benefits.
Employees may also have opportunities to travel to Korea, Guam, or the U.S. mainland for work, she said.
Looking
Among the job seekers at the fair was Cody Mettao, an 18-year-old waiting for his senior year to begin at Marianas High School. He said he was open to any kind of work.
“I’m just looking for whatever job I can do,” said Mettao, who gained sales and merchandise experience through the Saipan Chamber of Commerce internship program, where he was placed at Marpac.
He said he had another internship through NMTech and the Workforce Investment Agency, and encouraged other young job seekers to find internship opportunities via social media.
“It starts us off,” he said. “Some people graduate high school and don’t know where to go, don’t know what to do. But if they join internships or get help, they’ll find that opportunities are out there.”
When asked if he knew that the CNMI’s top job openings were all in the trades, Mettao said he did not.
Stephanie Tudela, who graduated from high school in 2024, has not yet found work but was open to office jobs. She attended the job fair with her friends Zenavee Ladore and Rianna Helgen. All three said they had submitted applications to employers, such as Saipan World Resort, Docomo, Moylan’s Insurance, and others.
When asked if they knew that trades made up the CNMI’s top job vacancies, they said they were unaware.
Tudela said she would consider leaving the CNMI if she couldn’t find work.
“If I was applying and didn’t hear back after a long time, I think I would [move],” she said, adding that she has family in the mainland U.S. who could support her.
Ladore said her entire family of five had discussed relocating.
“Prices are higher now and people are losing jobs,” she said. “My grandma is still working, but if plans change, maybe in two to three years max, we might move to find a more steady living.”
Helgen, who graduated from high school this year, said she was seeking work close to home and was especially interested in applying to Herman’s Modern Bakery. She said trades work wasn’t for her.
“I would like to explore other options besides that,” she said. “I’m more suited for indoor jobs. I’m used to it. I like it more. I’ve never experienced construction.”
Helgen added that she was seeking a job to help support her family.
“[I’d move] if I don’t have a job that can support my family,” she said. “If I don’t find a job in maybe like a year, I have family in the States — in Cali.”
Dozens of residents were at the Marianas Beach Resort on Friday for the CNMI DOL job fair.
From left Zenavee Ladore, Stephanie Tudela and Rianna Helgen.
Cody Mettao
Saipan World Resort has job openings in various trades.
