The Transition of Jamaican - International Labour Organisation ...

Table 3.7: Main Obstacles in Finding Suitable Jobs By Category of Youth
Category of Youth
Response
Not
Working
Employed
Self-
Employed
Average
No Education 9.0 11.8 28.5 16.4
Unsuitable General Education 20.4 14.5 14.5 16.5
Unsuitable Vocational Education 5.0 26.8 16.8 16.2
No suitable Training Opportunities 5.5 40.5 28.5 24.8
Requirements for Job Higher
than Education 12.1 3.1 4.5 6.6
No Work Experience 11.0 1.7 2.8 5.2
Not Enough Jobs Available 30.1 0.2 0.6 10.3
Considered too Young 1.7 0.5 0.0 0.7
Being Male or Female 0.2 0.7 2.8 1.2
Others 4.9 0.2 1.1 2.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
these institutions have largely been unable to fulfil the level of demand. Many of
the popular programmes are over-subscribed with long waiting lists for registration.
These include the cosmetology and the hospitality and food services programmes.
The capacity issues at HEART Trust/NTA could be a determinant factor
for this perception among youth. This perception however, was not shared by the
Not Working Youth as only 5.5 per cent of this group felt that this was a main
obstacle. They were of the opinion that “not enough jobs available” and “unsuitable
general education” were the main obstacles.
More than 16.5 per cent of the youth identified the unsuitability of their education
as the second main obstacle to finding a ‘suitable’ job. This was closely followed
by “no education” 1 and “unsuitable vocational education” for which 16.4 per
cent and 16.2 per cent, respectively of the youth felt that this was a major
barrier.
The fifth main obstacle recognized by the youth in finding a job is that there
are not enough available jobs (10.3 per cent). This was the main factor selected by
Not Working Youth (30.1 per cent) for their continued unemployment. The pace
of job creation has not grown in tandem with the growth in the economy.
More than 16.5 per
cent of the youth
identified the unsuitability
of their education
as the second
main obstacle to finding
a ‘suitable’ job.
This was closely followed
by “no education”
and “unsuitable
vocational education”
1. Interpreted to mean “having no certification”
CHAPTER 3: ATTITUDES & EXPECTATIONS REGARDING WORK
31