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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Strategies for youth employment

Strategies for youth employment
Yes

Youth employment strategy planned in the next 2 years

Discussions within the government
Yes
Consultations with national-level stakeholders (e.g. employers’ and workers’ associations, youth councils, etc.)
Yes
A draft strategy already exists
Yes
Other (please specify)
No

Countries with national action plans for youth employment

Monitoring framework (timeline and activity/outcome indicators, e.g. youth labour market indicators)
Yes
Funding (indicative budget to implement the plan)
Yes
Institutional responsibilities (e.g. ministries/agencies in charge of specific planned activities )
Yes
Other, specify
Yes

Public funding for the national youth employment strategy

Public funding for the national youth employment strategy
Yes

Additional information:
• Ministry of Finance • Ministry of Education

Youth in the national development / employment strategy

Youth in the national development / employment strategy
Yes

Additional information:
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, youth-focused initiatives are embedded in broader policy frameworks, including the Employment and Labour Market Policy and the Government Employment Strategy. In response to structural employment challenges—particularly the decline of the banana industry in the mid-1990s, which led to significant job losses in agriculture—the Government has prioritized creating opportunities in non-agricultural sectors. However, job creation in these sectors has not fully offset earlier losses, leaving many young people vulnerable in the labor market.

Countries with national goals for youth employment

Countries with national goals for youth employment
Yes

Additional information:
National goals and objectives to promote youth employment in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are reflected in policy documents and reports from labour market stakeholders. These include: Employers' Organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Employers’ Federation (SVEF), which advocate for policies and programmes that enhance workforce readiness and youth employability. Trade Unions, including the Commercial, Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU), the Public Service Union (PSU), the Saint Vincent Union of Teachers (SVUT), and the National Workers' Union (NWU), regularly produce reports and recommendations focused on improving youth access to decent work, fair wages, and skills training.

Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment

Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment
Yes

Policy areas in national youth employment strategies

Macroeconomic and Sectoral policies
Yes
Enterprise Development
Yes
Education, Training and skills development
Yes
Labour Demand
Yes
Labour Law and Legislation
No
Labour Market Policies
Yes
Other (please specify)
No

Social partners' inclusion in the youth employment strategy

Workers
Implementation of youth employment strategies/programmes (e.g. social partners as official implementers of the strategy or programme)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Assessment of youth employability (alignment of youth qualifications and skills to labour market needs)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Monitoring and evaluation of youth employment interventions (e.g. active labour market programmes)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Awareness raising, marketing and promotion of youth employment (e.g. campaign to promote youth employment)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Formulation of youth employment strategies (e.g. national action plan for youth)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Development of youth employment programmes (e.g. sectoral programme with a clear target to employ X number of youth)
Consulted
Employers
Implementation of youth employment strategies/programmes (e.g. social partners as official implementers of the strategy or programme)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Assessment of youth employability (alignment of youth qualifications and skills to labour market needs)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Monitoring and evaluation of youth employment interventions (e.g. active labour market programmes)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Awareness raising, marketing and promotion of youth employment (e.g. campaign to promote youth employment)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Formulation of youth employment strategies (e.g. national action plan for youth)
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
Development of youth employment programmes (e.g. sectoral programme with a clear target to employ X number of youth)
Consulted

Youth-led organizatios' inclusion in the national strategy

Fully involved
Yes
Partially involved (only for some elements of the strategy)
No
Consulted
No
Informed
No
Not involved
No

Countries with national partnerships for youth employment

Countries with national partnerships for youth employment
Yes

Additional information:
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, initiatives like the Youth Employment Service (YES) and SET and YATE programmes aim to enhance youth employment opportunities. These programmes provides job attachments and training, helping young people gain practical experience and skills necessary for the job market. Additionally, vocational skills training programmes have successfully improved job prospects for many youths, enabling them to find employment or start their own businesses.

Inclusiveness of vulnerable groups in national strategies

Women
Yes
Migrant Workers
Yes
NEETs
Yes
People with disabilities
Yes
Low skilled workers
Yes
Rural workers
Yes
Other (please specify)
No

Youth employment strategies and international cooperation

Youth employment strategies and international cooperation
Yes

Additional information:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) offers assistance for youth employment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines through capacity-building initiatives, policy advice, and support aimed at advancing the Decent Work Agenda. The ILO also engages in research to gather detailed insights that inform stakeholders on job search assistance, career advice, and other employment services tailored for youth.