I heard that poverty is a real problem in St Thomas. Is it because there aren't enough jobs, because it's

Question

expensive, or because it's beutiful all the time so people just don't work?

I don't have a college degree, and I don't want to live in a shack. I plan on working 50 hours a week. I don't know, is it hard to afford life down there?

Answer 1

I can't think of anywhere where poverty ISN'T a problem, but you were on the right track with your first two guesses...sort of.

The US Virgin Islands has a cost of living comparable with places like New York City and Washington, D.C.  The reason being that almost everything we have here has to shipped from the US mainland.  Property is also very expensive here because houses have to be constructed to withstand hurricanes.  Finally, there isn't a highly diverse job pool in the US Virgin Islands.  Most of the available work is in tourism based and public service industries.  Also, since the private sector is competing with antiquated public sector pay scale (that is only recently being upgraded) the salaries here are less than you'd find on the mainland.

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