Youth Employment A Synopsis of Employment Strategies and Programmes for Youth in Jamaica

Introduction This discussion is aimed at highlighting the many strategies and programmes being implemented to tackle some of the problems encountered by the youth in the labour market. Reference is made to pertinent recommendations as to ways in which the situation of the youth can be improved. To be noted is the unemployment rate for youth which is three times that of adults, and 2.2 times that of total unemployment

Figure 1: Youth Activity in 2005 Based on available data, of the total youth population in 2005, 58 per cent is either in the labour force or attending tertiary level institutions.

National Strategies to Promote Youth Employment These strategies have focused on: Policy Formulation Training and Technical assistance Youth Support Groups Youth Support Services

In promoting youth employment much emphasis is placed on exposing the youth to gaining the necessary experience to join the workforce. There are several strategies that are used to monitor, guide and challenge youth into developing themselves to fit into the demands of adult life. National Strategies to Promote Youth Employment

Employment Strategies MOEY, Jamaica has recently launched a “National Youth Policy” aimed at establishing a local perspective on youths’ personal and national development with a common vision. This common vision which seeks to minimize the negative social and economic situations experienced by this age group was agreed on by stakeholders and identifies key roles and responsibilities of individuals and organizations.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) Employment and entrepreneurship are important elements of the Policy and will focus on certain achievable targets. These achievable targets include: o Strengthening the education and training system through advocacy; o Increasing training opportunities and research; o Forging linkages to employment opportunities; o The provision of incentives to employers;

Employment Strategies (cont’d) o Training more young persons in entrepreneurship. o Providing loan and credit facilities to youth. A National Strategic Plan for Youth Development will be implemented to guide the activities of the Policy for the next five to ten years.

Employment Strategies Although training is available through a broad formal and informal education and training system in Jamaica, emphasis is being placed on the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Trust/NTA to expand its training and certification in the various technical and vocational fields.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) HEART Trust/NTA which was established in 1982, is spearheading the challenge of making the Jamaican workforce more competitive, to achieve improvements in productivity. HEART Trust/NTA has reorganized its operations to offer unit level courses and has embarked on a process to certify more of the local tradesmen and women so that they can meet the approval of prospective employers.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) HEART Trust/NTA intends to be a regionally accredited institution so that workers from the Caribbean Single Market and Economy can benefit from increasing opportunities. HEART Trust/NTA is partnering with employers’ organizations and youth organizations to ensure a smoother school to work transition.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) HEART Trust/NTA conceptualized the School Leavers’ Training Opportunity Programme (SL-TOP) SL-TOP was design for secondary students who had at least two general proficiency passes and who would benefit from the programme by on- the-job training received for one to three years, after which they become certified.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) The National Youth Service (NYS) is a youth organization that has as its mandate to train and guide young persons in appropriate leadership and social skills, ensuring high levels of discipline and the upholding of positive values and attitudes.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) The National Centre on Youth Development (NCYD) was created to provide an institutional framework that: - (1) coordinates and collaborates on youth programmes, and (2) supports other youth organizations and stakeholders with research and information needs. Both entities were established out of the initial development of a National Youth Policy in 1994

Employment Strategies (cont’d) The National Youth Service (NYS) and the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) have been working assiduously to achieve sound objectives in youth development nationally. Some activities include: - Employment of youth empowerment officers;

Employment Strategies (cont’d) - establishing the Youth Ambassadors Programme; - Hosting seminars on entrepreneurship; - NYS has also launched a Volunteerism Programme that aims to broaden exposure to organizations such as NGOs.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) Support services accessible to the youth are the provision of basic education, skills training and personal development courses. Youths can also obtain financial assistance in terms of small business loans, scholarships and grants.

Employment Strategies (cont’d) Other support groups are the NYS-CORPS and the Jamaica 4-H Club, who both assist a satisfactory number of youths annually in the areas of agriculture, business, information technology, the environment, also maintaining healthy lifestyles and work attitudes. Arising from participation in the training programmes offered by the Jamaica 4-H, persons could obtain NCTVET certificates.

Employment Strategies Business Youth for National Development (BY.ND) has assisted new entrepreneurs to establish themselves through product development, service delivery and business plan preparation and also arranges on-the-job training for participating persons. BY.ND also offers technical and financial assistance to young entrepreneurs.

National Programmes aimed at youth Youth Opportunity Fairs have sought to expose employment opportunities in the rural areas in fields such as health, agriculture and the security forces. Other programmes include the Heifer and Goat Revolving Scheme, and the Information Technology Employment Programme.

National programmes aimed at youth (cont’d) The Lift-Up Jamaica Programme was implemented to provide short term employment and skills training to persons aged 18 to 30 years in labour intensive projects aimed at improving community infrastructure.

Programmes aimed at youth (cont’d) The National Summer Employment programme provides employment to upper secondary and tertiary level students. The Jamaica Values and Attitude Programme (JAMVAT) allows tertiary level students to give community service to public and private entities in exchange for financial assistance.

Broad Recommendations for a comprehensive youth strategy To maintain a comprehensive training and employment programme that will enhance relationships at the firm level, improve the relevance of training programmes and design new social security provisions which will impact on the employability aspects of young persons.

Recommendations To target sectors that youth are employed in, to increase labour productivity and enhance communication between these sectors and education and training institutions. To implement programmes which target social and disciplinary aspects of youth development and to create proper networks between youth groups, the state and civil society. To target poor and marginalized youths.

Recommendations To expand the operations of the National Youth Service to accommodate more young persons. To include entrepreneurship and skills training in the secondary school curriculum. The establishment of a Youth Entrepreneurial Trust that will provide a continuous financial and technical support for business development.