DFID 7774 Youth Skills for Economic Growth in the Eastern Caribbean

The actual CPV code is ‘75211200 Foreign Economic-Aid Related Services’.

Youth unemployment in the Eastern Caribbean is very high, in many cases about twice the overall unemployment rate and among the highest in the world , with rates of between 34 and 42% . Many young people in the Caribbean face a very challenging transition from school to work, and can face years of unemployment or underemployment. High youth unemployment represents lost potential contributions to economic development, and is also associated with a higher risk of involvement in violence and crime, especially among young men. Inadequate skill development is seen as a barrier to growth and employment in the Caribbean. There are ‘skills gaps’ in the Caribbean workforce which impede productivity and innovation, and constrain the ability of firms to enter new sectors, to grow and to create employment. Despite relatively high levels of investment in education and basic education access, there are issues in the quality of education, and there is a “mismatch” between the outputs of the education system and the requirements of the labour market . Employers in the region cite the lack of skills as a major constraint to investment, growth and competitiveness.

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