As the world faces a widening skills gap, the age-old concept of apprenticeships is seeing a revival. Once the hallmark of medieval guilds, apprenticeships are being reimagined in countries like Germany, Switzerland, and the UK as key tools for workforce development. Jamaica, grappling with a growing demand for skilled labour, may benefit from adopting this time-tested model.
In the last three years, many Jamaican business leaders have expressed concern over the shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the hospitality sector. Prominent figures like Margaritaville Caribbean Group’s chairman Ian Dear and Chukka Caribbean’s deputy chairman John Byles have called on the government to consider importing skilled labour to meet industry needs. Despite these concerns, the public has largely met such proposals with scepticism, questioning the motives behind them.
“This is not about replacing Jamaican labour. This is not about getting cheaper labour,” clarified Seprod CEO Richard Pandohie in a recent interview. “It’s about increasing the competency of the workforce and ensuring that companies, when they are allowed to bring in people, show a clear plan of how they will use them to train our local labour.”
This focus on using skilled workers to train others echoes the traditional roots of apprenticeship models, which date back to medieval Europe. During that time, craftsmen and artisans formed guilds to pass down their knowledge through a structured system of mentorship, a practice that laid the foundation for today’s apprenticeship programs.
Countries like Germany have long embraced apprenticeships through systems like the “dual education model,” which combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience. This model has proven so successful that countries like the US and UK have adopted similar initiatives. Major corporations, including IBM and Microsoft, now offer apprenticeship programs to train talent in emerging industries like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and healthcare.
In Jamaica, apprenticeships take a different form. The HEART Trust/NSTA provides training primarily as an alternative for those who don’t pursue tertiary education. However, Kamesha Blake, executive director of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), believes this model needs an overhaul.
“We’ve looked at the UK model and see seamless integration at various levels. Apprenticeships should start from basic programs and go up to advanced levels, even integrated into universities,” Blake said in a recent interview. She argues that Jamaica should adopt a model similar to Germany’s dual education system, where apprenticeships are not seen as secondary options but as essential for workforce development. In this system, apprenticeships can even be linked to degree courses, providing a clear path from education to employment.
Given the ongoing skills shortage in sectors like tourism, hospitality, and manufacturing, Blake believes that a revamped apprenticeship system could be the solution. “This adaptable model would help bring in people without skills, providing them with jobs and training at the same time,” she said.
Though apprenticeships have traditionally been concentrated in a few industries, research from Harvard Business School’s Managing the Future of Work project points to new opportunities for expanding the model. The study highlights that apprenticeships could be extended into industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance, areas where skills shortages are becoming more apparent.
Blake also notes that for apprenticeships to be successful, they must be well-structured and widely promoted. “HEART needs to help both employers and prospective employees understand the value of apprenticeships. The programme itself must be well-developed and marketed, so employers can see the long-term benefits for their businesses and the wider economy.”
With the growing demand for skilled labour in Jamaica, the time may be right for the country to embrace a modernized apprenticeship system. If done correctly, it could serve as a powerful tool to close the skills gap, boost workforce competence, and ensure the island’s economy remains competitive in a fast-evolving global market.
