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Trinidad and Tobago

Strategies for youth employment

Strategies for youth employment
Yes

Youth employment strategy planned in the next 2 years

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

Public funding for the national youth employment strategy

Public funding for the national youth employment strategy
Yes

Additional information:
Ministry of Youth Development and National Service

Youth in the national development / employment strategy

Youth in the national development / employment strategy
Yes

Additional information:
• National Youth Policy of Trinidad and Tobago 2020-2025 • Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) Development Policy for Trinidad and Tobago • Roadmap for Trinidad and Tobago Post COVID-19 Pandemic • Vision 2030-The National Development Strategy of Trinidad and Tobago 2016-2030

Countries with national goals for youth employment

Countries with national goals for youth employment
Yes

Additional information:
Under Theme IV of the National Development Strategy, the issue of under-employed youth is addressed. Pillar 1 of the National Youth Policy of Trinidad and Tobago 2020–2025 includes the following key objectives: • Prioritise youth economic participation and empowerment. • Facilitate enhanced economic participation among young people. • Promote youth economic empowerment through targeted initiatives. • Establish an internationally accredited ecosystem to support youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment

Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment
No

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
Yes
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)
Not involved
Assessment of youth employability (alignment of youth qualifications and skills to labour market needs)
Not involved
Monitoring and evaluation of youth employment interventions (e.g. active labour market programmes)
Not involved
Awareness raising, marketing and promotion of youth employment (e.g. campaign to promote youth employment)
Not involved
Formulation of youth employment strategies (e.g. national action plan for youth)
Not involved
Development of youth employment programmes (e.g. sectoral programme with a clear target to employ X number of youth)
Not involved
Employers
Implementation of youth employment strategies/programmes (e.g. social partners as official implementers of the strategy or programme)
Not involved
Assessment of youth employability (alignment of youth qualifications and skills to labour market needs)
Not involved
Monitoring and evaluation of youth employment interventions (e.g. active labour market programmes)
Not involved
Awareness raising, marketing and promotion of youth employment (e.g. campaign to promote youth employment)
Not involved
Formulation of youth employment strategies (e.g. national action plan for youth)
Not involved
Development of youth employment programmes (e.g. sectoral programme with a clear target to employ X number of youth)
Not involved

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:
2025: The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) has successfully partnered with the State Agencies and the Corporate Sector to create employment opportunities through Apprenticeship Programmes in the various sectors in the country. eg Trinidad Cement Limited & MYDNS partnership in the agriculture sector via the Mayo Community Agriculture Project, Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Company to implement a Linesman and Lines-Clearing Programme and the Water and Sewerage Authority to deliver a Plumbing Skills apprenticeship programme. 2024: The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) is currently partnering with the Corporate Sector to create employment opportunities through Apprenticeship Programmes in the various sectors in the country e.g. Trinidad Cement Limited & MYDNS partnership in the agriculture sector via the Mayo Community Agriculture Project.

Inclusiveness of vulnerable groups in national strategies

Women
Yes
Migrant Workers
No
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:
Discussions are currently ongoing with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the provision of technical assistance (TA) to the On the Job Training Programme (OJTP), with a view to strengthening certain areas of the programme. The OJTP is a jop placement programme for school leavers between the ages of 16 to 35. It is envisioned that through the TA received from the IDB, the number of persons participating in the OJTP would be bolstered. Thereby increasing youth employment in the short-term. Given that participation in the OJTP should improve one's employability, participation in this progamme should also increase youth employment in the medium/long term.