'Should I stay or should I go?': Students weigh up a life and career on the Isle of Man

Young people and employers meet at annual Isle of Man Graduate Fair

How the Isle of Man can attract and retain young people was the question on the minds of many at a Graduate Fair held in Douglas this week.

Hosted by Locate Isle of Man, hundreds attended the event at the Villa Marina Royal Hall on Wednesday where more than 50 employers were showcasing what the Island had to offer in terms of a career.

Douglas Central MHK Ann Corlett, Political Member for Locate Isle of Man, recently said Government might not be targeting 'the right people' in its bid to attract new residents to the Island.

But she says school leavers and soon-to-be university graduates do fit the bill:

[Image: Ann Corlett MHK, Political Member for Locate Isle of Man - Manx Radio]

[Image: Paul Craine MLC - Manx Radio]

Last month, Paul Craine MLC, a demographer on the Island, said declining births, young people leaving the Island and an ageing population have gone from being 'vulnerabilities' to 'extremes'.

With that in mind, he told Manx Radio that events like the Graduate Fair were 'hugely important':

The Youth Select Committee, which is made up of Manx residents in their teens and early 20s, recently gained Tynwald support for its report calling for action on housing.

The committee is now examining support for those leaving education in a bid to address the number of young people who leave the Island.