Youth unemployment in Barbados remains more than double the national average, and the Ministry of Labour says that’s a national concern.
Government figures show that in 2023, 21.4% of Barbadians aged 15 to 24 were unemployed, compared to under 6% for the wider population.
Minister of Labour Colin Jordan noted that while the programme gives participants three weeks of workplace readiness training before placing them in jobs for 12 months, the requirements from many employers make it almost impossible for young people to start.
