Working Paper Series: Special Edition of 2016 to 2018 Interns

4.3.3 Education An examination of survey data on the educational background of the unemployed suggests that an

individual’s highest level of educational attainment influences the likelihood of being unemployed. The survey revealed that persons having attained upper secondary schooling, that is, completed forms 4 to 5 and persons having only completed infant or primary school experienced the greatest levels of unemployment, 43.5 and 35.7 per cent respectively. Those completing upper secondary schooling made up 43.5 per cent of the unemployed while individuals who had completed only infant or primary school made up 35.7 per cent of the unemployed. Individuals with no formal schooling, tertiary education and other forms of educational attainment were the least likely to be unemployed.

Figure 7: Unemployment by Highest Level of Educational Attainment (%)

100

6.3 4.5 1.2

Other

90

80

Tertiary

70

Post Sec, non tertiary Upper Secondary Junior Sec/ Senior Primary

43.5

60

50

6.8

40

Infant or Primary None

30

20

35.7

10

2.0

0

Source: Central Statistics Office, Saint Lucia

4.4 Labour Market Demand

4.4.1 Employment Demand by Sector Employment growth in the major sectors following the 2008 crisis has been weak ( Figure 8 ). Notably, net average job losses were observed in the agriculture sector due to external factors including rising input prices; construction sector attributed to declining public sector and foreign direct investments; and the financial services sector due to streamlining of operations to boost profitability.

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