ILO–NIHERST collaboration for evidence-based workforce development in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (ILO News) — The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) recently marked the successful completion of a joint research initiative with the ceremonial soft launch on 15 January 2026, of five sectoral reports under the Assessment of 21st Century Skills Across Emerging Sectors. Beyond unveiling the studies, the event highlighted the growing importance of robust, sector-specific labour market intelligence in shaping effective education, training, and skills development policies in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean.

Implemented by NIHERST with ILO technical assistance, the research applied ILO methodologies to assess current and future skills needs in five priority sectors identified for national economic diversification: Maritime, Tourism, Software Design and Applications, Agro-processing, and Aviation. The studies examined both employer demand for skills and the core skills profile of the workforce, identifying mismatches between labour market needs and available competencies. The analytical framework focused on nineteen core skills identified by the ILO as essential for lifelong learning and adaptability in a changing world of work.

In addition, the research study identified the current and future demand for occupations in STEM. The rapid technological change at the global level, with growing adoption of automation, digitalisation, biotechnology and data-driven production, is reshaping the skills demand faster than current education and training systems are adapting to prepare the workforce. Evidence from the research shows arising job opportunities in STEM fields. The sectoral approach applied to the research is particularly important in small island developing States (SIDS), where limited resources require targeted investments in education and training. By grounding skills planning in reliable data, governments, employers, and workers’ organizations are better equipped to design policies and programmes that respond to real labour market demand, support productivity, and improve employment outcomes. For Trinidad and Tobago, the findings offer practical guidance for aligning STEM education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and higher education with emerging economic opportunities.

The collaboration also reflects the ILO’s broader policy and technical advice on building inclusive and responsive skills systems. Central to this is the promotion of quality apprenticeships, which the ILO defines as structured programmes combining paid on-the-job training with off-the-job learning, underpinned by clear learning outcomes, social protection, and social dialogue. Effective apprenticeships depend on accurate information about sectoral skills needs, occupational standards, and employer demand, precisely the type of evidence generated through research partnerships such as the one with NIHERST.

By strengthening national capacity for skills anticipation, the ILO supports constituents in designing apprenticeships and other work-based learning pathways that are relevant, equitable, and aligned with long-term development goals. Sectoral studies help identify where apprenticeships can be most effective, which occupations are emerging, and what competencies- technical and transversal- are required for success. This ensures that training investments benefit both enterprises and workers, while supporting decent work and productivity growth.

For NIHERST, the initiative reinforces its mandate to provide high-quality research that informs national development. Working closely with the Ministries of Education and of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, NIHERST plays a critical role in translating research into policy-relevant insights for education institutions, industry, and students. The studies also highlight areas where scholarships, incentives, and curriculum updates can better support skills development in priority sectors.

More broadly, this collaboration demonstrates how applied research, grounded in international standards and local expertise, can contribute to stronger labour markets across the Caribbean. As countries navigate technological change, climate challenges, and economic restructuring, partnerships between national research institutions and the ILO help ensure that skills policies are forward-looking, inclusive, and evidence-based.

The soft launch of the five sectoral reports marks not an endpoint, but the beginning of deeper policy dialogue, dissemination, and regional knowledge-sharing, supporting Caribbean member States’ journey towards a more diversified, resilient, and skills-ready economy.