The Social Protection Ministry through its Department of Statistics on Monday launched a Labour Market Intelligence Survey, aimed at obtaining information relating to the existing labour force in Guyana.
The Survey will allow for the gathering of data as it relates to the skills level and occupational wages through a wide cross-section of the local population while zooming in on the elements and abilities of the existing working class. At the same time, it will highlight the aspects of the labour force that are in need of enhancement.
As such, once completed, the information will provide insight to be used in policy making as well as determining national strategies, especially in regards to decisions targeting economic and social growth.
However, it can also influence regional and international relations, given that foreign organisations will be adequately informed when entering into collaborations with Guyana.
The start of the Labour Market Intelligence Survey comes months after Finance Minister Winston Jordan outlined the need for such an approach.
It was during the presentation of the 2017 National Budget to the National Assembly that the Finance Minister noted that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has prioritised the undertaking of continuous Labour Force Surveys, which were set to be launched in the second quarter of 2017.
“Laboured in the dark, not knowing our rate of unemployment, or which demographic group requires greatest attention,” Jordan relayed, while indicating that assessments such as the Labour Market Survey would allow the Government to generate and disseminate timely data, especially in critical sectors such as health and education.
With that, the Minister proposed a quarterly survey which will incorporate size, location, gender and educational profiles, occupational status and industry, age structure, and regularity of work.
Moreover, the process, which is to be done electronically, will provide an avenue to calculate national and regional employment and unemployment rates, and can be used to make important decisions regarding job creation, skills training and education.
