The Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development highlighted the voices of youth who lamented the high economic cost of youth unemployment. The incidence of unemployment among the youth is higher than among the adult population. In fact the data reveals that youth unemployment rates are substantially above the national averages across the Region. Indeed it is more than twice the adult rate. A reduction in youth unemployment to the adult levels would contribute to growth of between one and two per cent in GDP among our Member States. This situation points in part to a mismatch between the skills required for employment and entrepreneurship, and those being developed in the education and training systems. The development of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), based as it is on occupational standards developed in conjunction with industry, is a step in the right direction and will render school leavers more readily employable.
Secretary-General of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque disclosed Tuesday at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the Opening of the eight Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour that “of increasing concern in our Region, is the fact that even among those who successfully complete secondary and tertiary education, and among those who have access to technology, many are unable to secure a decent job,”
He further said the meeting comes at a time in the development of the Region, when focus is placed collectively on the state of CARICOM economies, in particular stymied economic growth and what seems to be a threatening future. The Caribbean Community has witnessed, in some instances, erosion of the hard-fought economic gains which Member States have realised over time.
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque explained that among the circumstances that have contrived CARICOM to this position are the global financial and economic crises, the deleterious effects of natural disasters to which the Region is prone, and skill gaps in key sectors of economies.
“Of particular significance and concern is the rising level of youth unemployment which has in some instances contributed to the widening poverty gaps and rising levels of disenchantment, crime and insecurity,” he noted.
Ministers, met at a time when the world is examining options for the United Nations Post 2015 Development Agenda, an exercise which also provides opportunities for reflection and re-examination of development models. This is a debate in which Member States must continue to be actively involved, given the important role which the agenda will play in advancing sustainable development in all its facets, economic, social and environmental, and in fashioning the global financing agenda for developing countries.
Member States are in various stages of the development of their national Decent Work Programmes, which address different combinations of priorities based on national circumstances. In spite of significant ownership of the Programmes by the Tripartite Partners, funds and technical support and assistance to implement the Programmes remain a critical issue, especially given the dire economic conditions in many of Member states.
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