Download Workforce Education & Development in Jamaica

Workforce Education &
Development in Jamaica
Tabitha Service
Diane Spokus
IMMIGRATION
EMIGRATION
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Output
High or low skilled workers
PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR
Process
(WFED System)
K-12
Community Colleges
Universities
Other Governmentsponsored WFED
 Military Training
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Formal
•
Informal
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V
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L
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T
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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
SOCIAL
CAPITAL
• 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
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF WORKFORCE EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT in
Jamaica
Physical Environment
Geography
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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:
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Goods producing
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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
Gross Domestic Product
real estate services
8%
financial institutions
government services
0%
6%
Miscellaneous including
hotels
4%
Distributive Trade
20%
Household & private nonprofit services
1%
Agriculture
8%
Basic services
18%
Mining
9%
Manufacturing
17%
Construction
9%
Economic Development
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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
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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
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The Jamaican Constitution promulgated in 1962
Parliamentary system of government patterned
after Great Britain
 Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament:
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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