by C Francique
The skills gap and shortcomings of the education system in Grenada were major talking points during the National Leaders Debate on Wednesday. Under the thematic area of labour and employment, leaders were asked about Grenada’s labour shortage challenges and what they would do to build local labour capacity.
Political leader of the Democratic People’s Movement Peter David spoke of the need to reorient the education system so that skilled people remain in Grenada, especially in the trades. He cited several instances during his tenure as labour minister in which his department issued work permits for simple trade jobs for major construction projects.
Political Leader of the New National Party Emmalin Pierre said the skills in demand should be the areas of priority for training of the Grenadian people.
Prime Minister and Political Leader of the National Democratic Congress Dickon Mitchell spoke of continuing to support the New Life Organisation (NEWLO) as a key institution for technical and vocational training, significant reform of the education system, the creation of centres of excellence for construction-related skills and the establishment of a marine school and hospitality school. He added that technical and vocational training needs to happen at the primary school level, with students being able to decide whether they wish to pursue academics or a trade.
The Grenada Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2026–2031 has several key action points to consider as it relates to the topic of labour market challenges and reform. Decent Work Country Programmes are developed in collaboration with national governments, employers’ organisations, and workers’ organisations to identify and address key priorities for improving work conditions in a specific country.
The following is a list of actions in the DWCP that could lay the groundwork for informed decision-making for labour and education reform:
- Development of a National Labour Policy (NLP) validated by tripartite constituents
- Development of a national Labour Market Strategy
- A roadmap for establishing and operationalising a Public Employment Service
- Implementation of an updated labour force survey with findings regularly disseminated
- A comprehensive labour market report produced biennially
- Dissemination of findings from skills studies produced for key sectors for economic development
- Development and adoption of an Action Plan for more integrated training and employment support services
- A policy for quality apprenticeships is developed and validated by tripartite constituents
- Tripartite agreement on minimum employment standards for the tourism and hospitality sector
These measures must go hand in hand with education reform for success, because education develops the knowledge, skills and competencies that people need to participate effectively in the labour market, while the labour market determines the types of skills, qualifications and expertise that are in demand.
This relationship is particularly important for developing countries such as Grenada, where the quality of education, availability of skilled workers and alignment between educational programmes and labour market needs can significantly influence national productivity and economic growth.
Data and strategic plans are extremely important for effective decision-making because they provide the information, direction and structure needed to make informed choices, minimise risks and achieve desired results.
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