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Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica’s next economic goal is to raise national productivity, shifting the country’s focus from simply achieving full employment to creating higher-value, higher-paying jobs.
Speaking at the Amber Group’s 10th Anniversary Gala and AI Robotics Showcase, Holness highlighted that Jamaica’s unemployment rate of 3.3 percent — the lowest in its history — marks a strong foundation for transformation. However, he cautioned that sustainable growth depends on improving how Jamaicans work, not just how many are employed.
Holness emphasized that productivity and skills development are “not optional,” calling them essential for building a modern, competitive Jamaica. He urged the country to link training, technology, and innovation to growth, helping workers perform more complex and valuable tasks that support a resilient economy.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to skills training, digital innovation, and institutional reform, aiming to move Jamaica from low-value employment to high-value, knowledge-based work.
Holness’s comments come amid global economic shifts toward technology and automation, underscoring the urgency for Jamaica to invest in workforce modernization.
Closing Line:
Raising productivity, Holness stressed, will be the foundation of Jamaica’s transformation from an economy defined by employment numbers to one driven by innovation and value creation