Virtual Expert Group Meeting on Human Capital Formation in the Caribbean

Event

Teaser:

Labour productivity has been on a declining trend in the Caribbean. An examination of this trend revealed a growing concern of skills mismatch in the labour market. At the same time, youth unemployment is high in many countries, with young women and girls twice as likely not to be in education, employment or training. These are troubling signs for human capital formation at a time when Caribbean economies are experiencing low growth, and the global economy is becoming increasingly knowledge based.

Event information

Date:

-

Event type:

Meetings and technical symposiums

Participation:

By invitation

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.

 

Provisional Programme

Time Zone: Eastern Caribbean Time

Time Topic Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s)
10:00 – 10:10 a.m. Opening of the meeting

Welcome remarks
Diane Quarless, Director, ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean
10:10 – 10:40 a.m. Presentation: “Human capital formation in the Caribbean: implications for labour productivity and sustainable development” Abdullahi Abdulkadri, Coordinator, Statistics and Social Development Unit, ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean: Presentation
10:40 – 11:30 a.m. Panel: What causes skills mismatch in the Caribbean and what are the remedies? Marco Llinas, Director, Division of Production, Productivity and Management, ECLAC: Presentation

Nicholas Wright, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Florida International University

Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director, Belize Trade and Investment Development Service

Mikhail-Ann Urquhart, Senior Director, Research and Measurement Unit, Jamaica Productivity Centre
11:30 – 11:55 a.m. Open Discussion and Q and A  
11:55 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Conclusions Abdullahi Abdulkadri, Coordinator, Statistics and Social Development Unit, ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean

Organizing institution:

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

  • http://www.cepal.org/en/headquarters-and-offices/eclac-caribbean
  • (868)224-8000

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Contact:

Aurélie Quiatol

  • aurelie.quiatol@eclac.org
  • (868) 224-8071

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