Turks & Caicos Islands To Conduct First National Skills Audit

This news article is a production distributed through Caribbean News Service. It is made freely available to your media and we encourage publishing and redistribution, giving credit to Caribbean News Service (CNS).  

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, Apr 10 2016 – The Government of Turks and Caicos Islands, through the Ministry of Border Control and Employment will undertake its first National Skills Audit and Labour Market Needs Assessment survey in order to better understand the current labour context and plan for economic growth.

Dunn Pierre Barnett and Associates, a consultancy firm from Jamaica with offices also in Canada and PEM Consultant, located in Denmark were the two successful organisations in the rigorous tender process and will conduct the National Skills Audit over the next eight months.

The Skills Audit is part of the TCI Government’s strategy for managing its human resource capital and ensuring appropriate matches for its key sectors – which are mainly tourism and financial services. It will examine the position of the current workforce, identify skill gaps and migrant labour needs in order to develop a comprehensive strategy that fits with the vision of the country for its broader strategy of sustainable growth and development.

“A highly skilled workforce drives productivity and national development. Having the right mix of skills is critical to the Turks and Caicos’ services driven economy. By pausing to get an understanding of the current labour context, as it relates to both nationals and immigrants, Turks and Caicos will be able to plan for and better manage this important resource.  The insight gained will help lead to improved circumstances for all stakeholders and strengthen the country’s footing on its path to meeting its development objectives,” Mr. Pierre said.

The Audit will result in analysis of and recommendations for areas including: the work permit system (WPS);  technology that for efficient collection and analysis of data for the workforce; mechanisms for training and sharing information on career planning, training, and entrepreneurship; a labour market, human resource and Technical and Vocational Education and Training strategy; aligning domestic legislation with international where applicable; a rights based approach to labour and migrant welfare and skills development; and, an assessment of the impact of labour migration on the national economy.

“As this is the first National Skills Audit Consultancy to ever take place in the TCI, effective implementation and collaboration are the core pillars of the project and as such will require a broad participation of stakeholders at various levels throughout the island,” said Mr. Justine Cleophas Pierre, one of the lead consultants on the project.

Participating in the process will be representatives from various sectors of the country including: Tourism , Hospitality , Agri-Business, ICT, Construction, Manufacturing  Transportation, Financial Services, Trade, Creative Industries and the informal sector. This wide consultation is crucial so that the findings and recommendations best reflect the needs of the people who lead and are served by the businesses in each area.