Youth Employment Policy for Trinidad and Tobago being prepared with technical support from ILO Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (ILO News) As part of efforts to increase the youth employment, the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) of Trinidad and Tobago, in partnership with Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies, launched the development of a new National Youth Employment Policy (NYEP) on 4 November 2024.

The ILO has been requested to provide its global and regional experience in the development of youth employment policies, sharing best practices and successful initiatives. Further, the ILO has been asked to provide analysis of recent labour market statistics in Trinidad and Tobago, offering comprehensive understanding of current trends and challenges

“The ILO is pleased to collaborate with the Ministry and Cipriani College to develop this new policy, which provides a comprehensive framework for addressing youth employment challenges in Trinidad and Tobago. Our primary role will involve advising all stakeholders on analysing labour market dynamics and providing relevant policy toolkit to address wide array of youth-related issues such as youth unemployment, youth neither in education, employment or training (NEET) rate, low female participation rate, and the rise of non-standard forms of employment,” said Abdelmalik Muhummed, ILO Caribbean Employment and Labour Market Policies Specialist.

"This will also ensure that the policy aligns with and complements existing labour market, sectoral and macroeconomic policies. Further, as the policy's implementation is likely to start just five years before 2030 - the target date for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - the ILO will guide actors, including employers and workers representatives, to prioritise interventions that accelerate impact,” he continued.

Currently, the country’s youth unemployment rate is twice the national average. To speed up action against the trend, the NYEP incorporates a cross-cutting approach. In doing so, the policy engages the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, the Ministry of National Security, the CARICOM Youth Council and private sector partners to create an interconnected environment that is responsive to the needs of young job seekers.

During the event to announce the new policy, stakeholders focused on reducing barriers to youth employment and fostering entrepreneurship were key discussion points during the event. They also started to collaborate on ecosystem mapping which identifies targeted interventions to improve job readiness among the youth population.

This policy framework signals a critical moment for Trinidad and Tobago, as the youth unemployment rate remains a major concern. Through this initiative, the Government, Cipriani College and ILO Caribbean are emphasizing youth empowerment and skills development as essential elements of national growth and economic resilience.