The clamour for imported labour is growing louder, with the productive sector now labelling the situation urgent. While the demand for goods and services has rebounded the post- COVID-19 pandemic, the workforce is lagging. If they are to grow, compete and thrive in their business pursuits and, by extension, the country’s development, the business sector says it needs the requisite work permits to recruit new talent.

Jamaica’s labour shortage requires studying to understand exactly what are the factors which have led to this workforce deficit and how we got here.

Data show that the pandemic upended labour markets in North America and the United Kingdom (UK), with the result that there are many job openings and not enough workers to participate, which has put these countries in recruitment mode.

For decades, aggressive recruitment of teachers and nurses by overseas agencies, particularly in North America and the UK and some Caribbean countries, created major vacancies in many of the island’s schools and hospitals. Hardest hit were the specialist areas both in schools and healthcare facilities. In response, Jamaica’s strategy appeared to be one that accommodated continual training, with the understanding that some newly minted graduates will migrate to so-called “greener pastures”. Bonding students with loans offered a respite while graduates worked through their bonds. It is well documented that there are some who jetted off without due regard for their financial obligations. The other strategy included importing workers.

Skilled artisans, and craftsmen too, are being lost to neighbouring Caribbean islands and North America, where pay and living conditions are the strong magnets. The result is that, to find an excellent mason, tiler or plumber in Jamaica these days is not an easy task.

Retirement would have contributed to a dip in workforce numbers as well. Elsewhere, one of the latest trends is for employees to quit formal employment in search of new work-life balance in which they seek options that will give them more flexibility to allow them to spend more time with family.

Predicting changes in the size and nature of the labour force can be a daunting task because so many elements impact these numbers. However, the above examples, though not exhaustive, indicate why Jamaica is now poised to become a net importer of foreign workers.

Unemployment rate fell

Keeping track of the labour force is the job of The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), and it reported that the country’s unemployment rate fell to a record low 4.5 per cent in April this year. This means, even if every person who wanted a job is working, the country would still need more workers.

The HEART/ NSTA Trust, established more than 30 years ago, is the country’s technical and vocational training institute. Between 2019 and 2023, it graduated 19,300 skilled personnel. The question is whether or not HEART/ NSTA Trust needs to expand its thrust and introduce new skills training that will attract even more young people. Where are the logistic experts, solar panel installers, technicians, AI operators?

The private sector is no doubt anxious to see how the government will address this growing skills gap. What is the strategy to train and retain workers, even if importing skills is part of this formula?

The reality is that the Jamaican private sector will now be competing with other countries that face similar skills gap because of slow recovery in workplace participation. Competitive salaries and conditions of work will play a huge role in whether workers stay at home or go abroad.

Government planners, municipal government and educational institutions should be plotting to create the best environment to ensure a labour workforce that meets the demands of the economy is motivated to help in the development of their country.