Over the last three years, the global workplace has experienced unprecedented changes and upheavals, which have been and continue to disrupt not only how we view work, but also the roles and tasks we perform. However, is the Caribbean region ready for the future of work?

 

The future of work is a topic we have discussed extensively on the ICT Pulse, and especially on our Podcast, where in 2020, we had a year-long conversation on the subject. A key reason why we have devoted so much time to the issue is because it appeared not to be receiving the attention it deserved.

Although, for example, there have been claims that the education system in the English-speaking Caribbean is out of touch with the skills and expertise that are needed in today’s workplace, it could be argued that efforts to change the status quo have been limited. It thus stands to reason that the region may be even more out of touch with what is needed to prepare current and future students for the workplace of tomorrow.

It was thus a bit surprising, but also heartening, that in Jamaica there has been an urgent call for a summit on the future of work that should involve academia, the Government, industry leaders in the private and public sectors, and the general public (Source: Jamaica Observer). This meeting is being proposed although Jamaica’s unemployment rate is around the lowest it has ever been, 4.5%, and certain sectors continue to be poised for continued growth.

However, it was also acknowledged that the country is on a knife’s edge. Although the national unemployment rate is low, there is still a fair portion of the population that is unemployable, and some sectors are experiencing skills and labour shortages. Further, the increasing role of technology ought to be factored in, and consequently, concerns were expressed about the extent to which the workforce is not only digitally literate but also “digitally adaptable”.

 

Workforce challenges in the wiser Caribbean

Across the Caribbean region, it appears that most countries, similar to Jamaica, are not as prepared as they should be for the evolving workplace. For example, although according to the International Labour Organisation estimated that there are some countries with national unemployment rates of less than 10% in 2022, such as Belize (9.7%), Suriname (8.6%), Barbados (8.2%), Jamaica and Puerto Rico (6%), Trinidad and Tobago (4%) and Cuba (1.4%). However, many others had high national unemployment rates in 2022, such as The Bahamas (10.1%), Guyana and the United States Virgin Islands (12.4%), Haiti (14.8%), Saint Lucia (17.4%), and St Vincent and the Grenadines (19.0%).

Moreover, and though it is not regularly recorded, the unemployment rate among the youth population is often double or triple that of national rates, which inherently tells a different story than the latter. Essentially, there are a broad range of challenges that the Caribbean youth are experiencing with respect to their preparation for the workplace, that are not being fully addressed.

Further, although there might be robust industries and sectors in each country, the labour demand in others is underserved. Additionally, the impact of the much-talked-about brain drain cannot be underestimated, which is not just occurring across the entire workforce in Caribbean countries, but has been especially pronounced in some professions, such as teaching and nursing.

The brain drain issue in the region is often discussed within the context of the limited remuneration, employment opportunities and prospects for upward mobility that exist. However, it affects the wider dynamic of the workplace, and more importantly, the longer-term sustainability of the Caribbean countries and correspondingly, the region as a whole.

 

A cultural and structural shift is essential

The summit the newspaper writer proposed in Jamaica, would also be beneficial Caribbean-wide. However, it would only be an important first step: to help identify the issues and to secure the commitment of the key stakeholders involved to change the existing paradigm. Thereafter, the sustained effort with established milestones and agreed timelines will be critical to realise meaningful and effective change.

Having said this, there are cultural and societal shits that would also need to occur that tend to be overlooked and are not specifically addressed. These mores often shape the values, expectations and choices of societies and would include citizens’ views on the education system and academic performance, attitudes towards certain professions and even how private resources are invested in education and skills development. Ultimately, these issues, if unaddressed could undermine and delay countries’ readiness for tomorrow’s workplace.

 

In summary, and from all indications, Caribbean countries have not yet done the work needed to prepare themselves and their citizens for the emerging workplace. Over the past year, in particular, we have begun to witness the potential impact artificial intelligence can have on not only the roles in organisations but also the skills that will be needed to coexist with machines. However, we still have not yet begun to have the serious conversations that are needed to ensure that we are better prepared for what is to come.

 

 

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