Unemployment In Cuba

History. From indigenous to modern times, the history of Cuba differs and influences the country tremendously. Before Christopher Columbus arrived in Cuba in 1492, the country was occupied by three indigenous groups; the Guanahatabey, the Ciboney, and the Taino. The Taino, being the largest of the three groups, was the most advanced. Finally in 1511, a Spanish colony had been securely established and the enslaved native population was soon wiped out. The country of Cuba had finally been colonized and gained their independence on October 10, 1868 after U.S. and Cuban forces had defeated Spain. Their continuous fight, wars, and years of hard work, and endless efforts had ultimately paid off.

Climate/Geography. Being the largest Caribbean island,

Cuba offers a wide variety of geographic features and a warm climate. Cuba consists of two main islands: Cuba and Isla de la Juventud which means “Isle of Youth.” There are also about 1,600 smaller islands and keys. Most of the country is low rolling hills and valleys, but there are also tropical forests. The fertile valleys and hills are located in the west and central regions, and the tropical forests lie in the eastern area. Cuba’s climate is subtropical due to its location near the equator. There are only two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The dry season goes from the months of November to April, and the wet season goes from May to October. Hurricanes are likely to occur during the wet season causing floods and severe winds, which can devastate families.
Natural Resources. Cuba is among the top 10 producing countries of cobalt and nickel, but is also significant in iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum and arable land. Along with Cuba’s beautiful geography, its arable land provides many products that are dispersed throughout the world. The byproducts of Cuba’s rich soil are sugar, tobacco and rum; these are the most important exports that support Cuba’s economy.
Government. Unlike the United States, Cuba is a socialist state, meaning all the resources, property, and means of production are controlled by the government instead of by private individuals. The government has legislative and executive authority and a president. Legislative includes the National Assembly of People’s Power and has over 600 seats. Executive includes the Council of Ministers which are appointed by the National Assembly when the president proposes. The president, who is currently Raul Castro, is head of the state and head of the government. Because Cuba is a socialist state, or is a communist state, the government is struggling to meet its people’s needs. Most of Cuba’s citizens work for low salaries and in tough conditions where there are shortages in equipment and tools. Many people also resort to the black market just so they can make ends meet.
Neighbors.

Cuba is in the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, and is an island nation surrounded by neighboring island nations. Its nearest neighbors are Hati to the East, Mexico to the West, Florida to the North and Jamaica to the South. Cuba’s relationship with its neighbors played a large role in its history from the nineteenth century on, leading to a revolution and a change in economic options.

Unemployment Facts. Cuba’s unemployment rate has gone through its ups and downs through the years. The unemployment rate is the number of people in the labor force actively looking for work. In 2014, the unemployment rate was at 2.70 percent in Cuba compared to the United States at 5.10 percent. The unemployment rate in 2014 had decreased from 3.30 percent in 2013. It was at an all time high in 2000 at 5.40 percent and an all time low at 1.60 percent in 2008. Although the unemployment rate has gone through many drastic changes, it is currently at a better rate than what it once

was.
Work/Job Opportunities. Like any country, Cuba has a population full of educated, hardworking people. Each of these people are in search of well-paying jobs, some already having them. The labor force of Cuba is evenly divided among service-related jobs, including agriculture, trade, manufacturing and mining, and utilities. Due to the large amount of tourists, jobs in tourism are very desirable. This is due to their access of U.S. dollars and other foreign goods. Within the tourist industry, one will notice that even teachers, doctors, and engineers have left their professions to work in tourism as a result of earning a larger income. Although money is important, employed people should also enjoy their jobs and work hard at what they do to earn their income.
Language. Spanish is Cuba’s official language. Among its three main regions, different dialects and pronunciations exist. Many words, expressions and idioms are unique to Cuba and are not used in other spanish speaking countries. English is required in school and is interested by many Cubans who plan to go into the tourism industry.
Education. The average adult in Cuba has schooling for about 10.2 years, which results in the high literacy rate of 99.8%. Pre-schooling is available in urban cities for a fee, but the state provides free education to all citizens after pre-school. Following the secondary level (6-9 grade) citizens have the opportunity to decide between higher education at a pre-university level (up to 12th grade) or vocational or technical institutions, although both are boarding schools and not mandatory. There are schools for the physically and mentally handicapped, those who excel in sports or the arts, and seminaries but homeschooling is not allowed. Most university programs last 5 years or more.
Religion. Because of Cuba’s communism history, Cuba has been one of the least religious countries of all the latin American countries. Most people show no preference for organized religion. Eighty-five percent of Cubans are so-called Catholics although few practice the religion. The 1991 amendment policy excluded people with religious beliefs from the Communist party. With economic struggle, the Catholic church has provided social services to Cuban citizens which has renewed the interest in religious views. The encouragement of young people to explore religion by Pope John Paul Ⅱ prompted the Cuban government to make Christmas a public holiday. Spiritualism and talking to the dead is practiced in small groups and other churches are held in Cuba as well. Churches must register with the country and meet all the governmental rules of association. Cuba has strictly maintained the division between country and church.
Family Life. Like many cultures from indigenous to modern times, men are considered the “head of the household” in Cuba. However, women usually have control over the family as they take care of all of the domestic and household work. Due to the shortage of housing in some parts of Cuba, extended family remains strong in the terms of families living together. The community, including neighbors, churches, schools, and other businesses, also serve as extended family as they help to reinforce social values and emotional security. In modern times, the children of families are usually taken care of by day care centers while the parents and even grandparents work to earn an income for their families. If you were to ask any resident of Cuba about family, they would most often tell you that family comes first in their lives no matter what, which truly is reassuring to our own lives.
Appearance. Similar to our fashions and styles, the appearance of Cubans differs greatly depending on popularity and “latest crazes.” As we look at the the different styles of women, men, and children, we notice that their everyday attire is quite casual. The people of Cuba are mainly about comfort, however cleanliness is also very important to them. Cubans believe that looking nice and clean will attract others to them and their country. The women of Cuba usually wear jeans, slacks, or short skirts with a nice blouse, and sandals or canvas shoes. The younger women are more “hip,” as they are into tight jeans, strapless tops, and high heels. Most women of Cuba favor gold jewelry, consisting of bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Makeup is worn daily by nearly all women, however applied more heavily for special occasions or outings. The clothing worn by men is similar to that worn by men in the U.S., consisting of long pants, jeans, shirts or T-shirts as their everyday apparel. However, for formal situations, men wear a traditional square-cut shirt called a guayabera. The younger men wear apparel considered more sporty or “cool,” such as jeans, T-shirts or sleeveless shirts, and tennis shoes or locally made loafers. Although Cubans usually wear long pants, shorts are very common in urban and beach areas, as well as other pieces of lightweight clothing to satisfy the comfort of the people in the warm climate of Cuba.
Food.

In Cuba, breakfast is usually light, lunch is short, and dinner is the most important meal of the day. For breakfast, most Cubans have coffee and bread. The coffee is brewed strong and served with warm milk. Cubans either put toppings on their bread like butter or dunk it in their coffee. Many Cubans do not spend a lot of time preparing for lunch. Lunch is very simple, and usually consists of a chicken sandwich or a media noche (midnight sandwich). Dinner is the most important meal of the day. It is very heavy and usually includes some type of meat with a side. The sides may be black beans, rice, or mashed

potatoes.
Transportation. Traveling around Cuba is an adventure of its own. Unlike what many of us are used to, the quality of most cars are quite poor, so traveling by car isn’t always the easiest solution. Surprisingly, the population of Cuba has found traveling by bus is comparatively as comfortable and efficient as traveling by car. Exploring the beautiful country by train can also be another exciting experience. The railways of Cuba provide transportation to all capitals, allowing a variety of options. However, travelling via train also requires a lot of patience and time, as it isn’t always the most efficient way of transportation. Like traveling in any other country, traveling in Cuba can be very dangerous and can result in deaths due to motor vehicle accidents. Transportation is part of our daily needs and wants however, so we need to be cautious while traveling and always enjoy the ride.
Recreation. When it comes to having fun, vacation and sports is a specialty in Cuba. Sports are very popular. Most Cubans love to watch baseball and will do anything to see a game at the stadium. Even if it’s raining, they will go to the stadium to watch the game. However, professional sports teams are banned in Cuba, so it is only amatuer players that play. Another very popular thing that people do is go on vacation. They’re vacation may not be as spectacular as vacations in the United States, but overall, they are enjoyable. Many families will go to the beach or vacation at the resort Campismo Popular, which is Cuba’s national vacation resort system. The resort provides camping sites with simple cabins that most Cubans can afford.