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Workforce Education & Development in Jamaica
Tabitha Service, Ph.D. Candidate, Diane Spokus, Ph.D. Candidate
The Department of Learning & Performance Systems, The Pennsylvania State University
Physical Environment Formal Private Sector Economic Development
Geography Goods Producing Economic Development
143 miles long, 51 miles wide, 4,244 square miles Mining Jamaican economy heavily dependent on services, 70% of GDP
555 miles of coastline Agriculture In 1980s Jamaican economy primarily agricultural
3 counties, 14 parishes Manufacturing Foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, bauxite/alumina
Average temperature 80 degrees Construction 911 Terrorist attacks in the U.S. stunted economic growth
Independent since 1962 Services 2003 rebound of tourism
Cities Other-Transport, communication, distributive trade and financial services
Capital—Kingston metro area (pop. 628,000) Represented by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Informal Private Sector
Other large cities—Montego Bay (96,500) 48% of labor force
Spanish Town (122,700) Agriculture or community, social and personal services
Subsistence farmers, street vendors, household helpers, informal importers, hairdressers,
dressmakers, gardeners, etc.
Government
Parliamentary system of government patterned after Great Britain; Prime Minister
Human Capital:
•Population 2.6 million (July 2001)
•Since 1990s there has been a significant increase in the output of trained personnel from
Jamaica’s training and education institution
•Shows 315% increase in skilled & semi-skilled manpower
•135% increase in technical, managerial and related manpower
•17% of Jamaica unemployed received training – an increase from earlier years
NATIONAL TRAINING AGENCY
Civilian Labor Force
•Trains approximately 50,000 people annually
Stable population (2000): 2.65 million with annual growth rate (2000): 0.6% •School Leavers Training Opportunities Programme (S.L.T.O.P.s)
April of 2005 labor force comprised of 1,193,300 individuals or 36% of the population •Women’s Constructive Collective
Unemployment rate is 12.2%
Workforce: Agriculture 21%, Industry 19%, Services 60% (1998)
Since the 90s higher “skills” are more in demand than lower skills and unskilled
Flight of Human Capital in ages >25
Immigration Problems in the Formal Economy
•Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy. Since 1967, about 20,000 Jamaicans migrate to
the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually. At present there are approximately Economy faces serious long-term problems:
478,000 Jamaicans living in U.S. high interest rates; increased foreign competition
•Relaxed immigration policies in U.S. & the labor demand pressurized, sliding exchange rate; sizable merchandise trade deficit
•There are an estimated 2.5 Jamaicans living in other countries large-scale unemployment, internal debt
•New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. Cities with a significant Jamaican
population.
•Remittances from expatriate communities in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Canada, estimated at Social Capital
up to $800 million per year, make increasingly significant contributions to Jamaica’s economy.
Emigration Poverty
•28% or 715,000 persons are between age 15 – 29
•Rapid decline in population after age 25; alternatively a large population of expatriots > age 60 Jamaica is characterized as a middle-income country
migrate back to Jamaica after years abroad Per capita GDP is U.S. $1,293/yr.
Total expenditure among poorest quintile is JA $10,510 (U.S. $314)
Second poorest quintile is JA $17,480 (U.S. $522)
Median income is JA $34,975 (U.S. $1,049)
Education
Social
Inherited a British educational model Disruption is characterized by high level of violence, industrialization disputes and civil
Different types of schools aimed at different segments of population disturbances
In 90s increase in white-collar crime in financial institutions & custom regulations
Types of Schools In economic terms the high crime rate is deterrent to high investment
All age schools: basic education provided for children up to age 15
Primary schools: up to age 12
Secondary schools (remedial and vocational education)
Traditional High School
Comprehensive high schools and technical high school
Prep schools account for only 4%
3 universities, 7 teacher colleges, 6 community colleges
Common entrance examination offered at grade 5
HEART/NTA is the government body responsible for the vocational training system in Jamaica
