Editorial | Empower youth to succeed

Jamaica’s youth, who comprise 28 per cent of the island’s population, remain disproportionately at risk.

For example, at 11.7 per cent, youth unemployment is nearly three times the national average. This, though, is only one of several issues that pose challenges for young people and need attention, lest a generation remain on a path of drift, with the danger of becoming lost.

Education is a significant matter of concern. While access to schooling is almost universal in the island, participation and outcomes are problematic. UNICEF reports that approximately 50,000 Jamaican adolescents of secondary-school age are out of school, three in five of them boys. It also reports that about 35 per cent of 14-24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training.

The 2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a joint publication by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, UNICEF and the Inter-American Development Bank, found that only 50 per cent of Jamaican children ages seven to 14 years had acquired foundational numeracy skills, while 38 per cent had not acquired foundational reading skills. Among children ages 15-16, 82 per cent were attending upper secondary school or higher, below Jamaica’s national target of 95 per cent.

DIRECT CONNECTION

There needs to be a more direct connection between education, skills and the labour market. Technical and vocational education must be treated as a serious route into employment and entrepreneurship, not as an alternative reserved for students who do not pursue traditional academic qualifications.

The same applies to digital skills, creative industries, agriculture, construction, renewable energy, healthcare and other sectors where new opportunities are emerging. Employers should have a stronger role in shaping training programmes and providing apprenticeships and work experience.

Like others, this newspaper has repeatedly drawn attention to the particular difficulties facing boys and young men in the Caribbean, including school disengagement and the consequences of leaving education prematurely.

A 2025 UNICEF Jamaica U-Report poll involving more than 500 young people ages 15-30 found that 37 per cent identified finding a better job as their biggest concern, followed by the cost of living at 28 per cent. Mental health was identified by 10 per cent, and crime and violence by 8 per cent.

Policies must address these concerns. The following measures may be considered:

– Expand vocational and digital training aligned with labour-market demand, ensuring youth are prepared for emerging industries.

– Strengthen community-based crime prevention through sports, arts and mentorship, building trust between youth and law enforcement.

– Invest in mental health support, as UNDP studies show this makes youth participation safer and more sustainable.

– Create structured pathways from education to employment, including apprenticeships and partnerships with private-sector firms.

– Institutionalise youth participation in governance, following UN Core Principles that call for meaningful, representative and inclusive youth engagement.

SIMILAR PROBLEM

The wider Caribbean faces a similar problem. The International Labour Organization reported that youth labour-force participation across the region declined from 39.2 per cent in 2000 to 36.4 per cent in 2024. Youth unemployment stood at 17.6 per cent in 2024, compared with 4.7 per cent among adults.

The region has two responsibilities: to create opportunities and to ensure that young people are equipped to take them.

António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, in his message on International Youth Day on August 12, spoke of the toughest challenges younger generations face, most notably economic uncertainty, digital inclusion, and climate change, which transcend national borders and demand a coordinated response.

“Young people are already leading the way as organisers and innovators. But, to go further, they need access to the skills that will shape the future, from critical thinking and problem-solving to digital literacy.

“By working with young people as equal partners, we can unlock the demographic dividend, accelerate sustainable development, and bring their energy and expertise to bear on some of the defining crises of our time. They must also be granted a greater role in decision-making processes at the local, national, and international levels,” he said.

Jamaica can take the lead on that.