Workforce Education & Development in Jamaica

Workforce Education & Development in Jamaica Tabitha Service Diane Spokus

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF WORKFORCE EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT in Jamaica IMMIGRATION EMIGRATION CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE High or low skilled workers Output E V A L U A T I O N • PUBLIC SECTOR • K-12 • Community Colleges • Universities • Other Government- sponsored WFED • MilitaryTraining • PRIVATE SECTOR • Formal • Informal Process(WFED System) Input(influencing factors) • GOVERNMENT • Centralized • Funding for education • Priority to WFED • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT • Geography • Infrastructure • Natural resources • HUMAN CAPITAL • Population • WF participation Literacy • Human Develop. Index • SOCIALCAPITAL • Resist. to change • Social & Economic expectations • Role of women • Trust and cohesion • Social Stability • ECONOMIC Development • GDP • Economic growth • Sectors of employment • Gov. vs. private ownership

Physical Environment Geography • 143 miles long, 51 miles wide, 4,244 sq. mi • 555 miles of coastline • 3 counties, 14 parishes • Average Temperature 80 degrees • Independent since 1962 Cities: • Capital--Kingston metro area (pop. 628,000). • Other large cities--Montego Bay (96,600), Spanish Town (122,700) 40% Jamaica’s population live in these 3 cities

Civilian Labor Force • Stable population (2000): 2.65 million with annual growth rate (2000): 0.6%. • April of 2005 labor force comprised of 1,193,300 individuals or 36% of the population. • Males 664,000, Females 529,300 • 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 • 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 478,000 Jamaicans living in U.S. • Relaxed immigration policies in U.S. & the ⁭ labor demand • There are an estimated 2.5 million Jamaicans living in other countries. • New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with a significant Jamaican population. • Remittances from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, estimated at up to $800 million per year, make increasingly significant contributions to Jamaica's economy.

Emigration • 28% or 715,000 persons are between age 15-29. • Rapid decline in population after age 25. • Noticeable 30-year pattern • Alternatively a large population of expatriots over age 60 migrating back to Jamaica after years abroad

Public Sector • Financial Services • Education • Public Utilities • National Security • Health • Transportation

Education • Inherited a British educational model. • Different types of schools aimed at different segments of the population • In colonial days formal education was provided for the children of planters and plantation management. There were no provisions for slaves. • First preparatory schools established. • Post emancipation (1836-1962) the formal education system developed to include the lower classes.

Types of Schools • All Age School, basic education provided for children up to the age of 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 accounts for only 4% of schools. • 3 universities, 7 teachers colleges, 6 community colleges • Common entrance examination offered at grade 6 • HEART/NTA is the government body responsible for the vocational training system in Jamaica

Formal Private Sector • Goods producing • Mining • Agriculture • Manufacturing • Construction • Services • Other-Transport, communication, distributive trade and financial services • Represented by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ)

Problems in the Formal Economy • The economy faces serious long-term problems due to high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise trade deficit; large-scale unemployment; and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. • The ratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. • Inflation, is expected to remain in the double digits. • Depressed economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest,

Infrastructure

Economic Development • Economic Development • The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 70% of GDP. • In the 1980s The economy of Jamaica was primarily agricultural • most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. • the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; • the economy rebounded moderately in 2003, with one of the best tourist seasons on record

Informal Private Sector • 48% of labor force involved in the informal labor market. • Agriculture or community, social and personal services. • Subsistent farmers, street vendors, household helpers, informal importers, hairdressers dressmakers, gardeners, etc.

Government • The Jamaican Constitution promulgated in 1962 • Parliamentary system of government patterned after Great Britain • Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament: • 60 members of the House of Representatives • terms up to 5 years • 21 members of the Senate appointed by Governor General (GG) • Prime Minister is Head of Government • British Monarch is the Head of State (Queen) She is represented by the G G

Government • Executive Power in Jamaica is vested in a cabinet which consists of 20 ministers and is headed by the Prime Minister who is leader of the Majority party—appointed from the House of Representatives by the GG • Prime Minister appoints the ministers of the cabinet

Political Parties • Jamaica has a two-party political system: • The People’s National Party (PNP) –socialists • Jamaica Labor Party supports free enterprise in a free economy • Other minor parties not recognized: • Workers’ Party of Jamaica, a Marxist group • Jamaican American Party, favor U.S. statehood for Jamaica

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 education and training institution • Shows 315% ⁭ skilled & semi-skilled manpower • 135% ⁭ technical, managerial and related manpower • 17% of Jamaica unemployed received training—an increase from earlier years

National Training Agency • Trains approximately 60,000 people annually. Programs • School Leavers Training Opportunities Programme (S.L.T.O.P.s) • Women's Constructive Collective http://www.cardef.org/home.HTM http://www.heart-nta.org/

Social Capital • Poverty • Jamaica is characterized as a middle-income country • 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)

Social Capital • Social • Disruption is characterized by high level of violence, industrialization disputes and civil disturbances • In 90s increase in white-collar crime in financial institutions & custom regulations • In economic terms the high crime rate is deterrent to high investment

Workforce Education & Development in Jamaica