Virtual Expert Group Meeting on Human Capital Formation in the Caribbean

ECLAC Caribbean's Expert Group Meeting gather leading researchers, scientists and professionals to discuss the latest findings on development issues in the Caribbean. The research and outputs are forwarded to policy makers in the region to support Caribbean sustainable development.

This study identifies falling quality of education and the inadequate preparedness of school leavers and graduates for the world of work as notable challenges to human capital formation in the Caribbean. We also identify a role for productive development policies to drive transformation by creating an enabling environment for the key drivers of human capital formation in the Caribbean – population dynamics, education, and employment – to shape the workforce, enhance labour productivity and create a path to sustainable development. However, this will not be achieved unless the subregion addresses the gender disparities in education and employment, the debilitating effect of non-communicable diseases, and the looming social protection burden of ageing from the demographic transition. Amidst these challenges, investment in information and telecommunication technologies offers the Caribbean a path to develop and earn dividend from its human capital.