KINGSTON, Jamaica — A mere 19 per cent of Jamaicans aged 19 to 24 are enrolled in tertiary education, indicating that over 219,000 are not, according to Opposition Spokesman on Education, Damion Crawford.

Crawford noted that in functioning systems, this figure ranges between 40 and 50 per cent.

“The comparative figures for Barbados and Trinidad are 65 per cent and 36 per cent respectively,” said Crawford on Tuesday as he made his contribution to the Sectoral Debate at Gordon House.

He said only 16 per cent of the labour force holds a university degree, and youth inactivity continues to rise, with over 124,000 young Jamaicans not engaged in education, employment or training.

“Neither the elevator nor the stairs appears capable of facilitating the transition of graduates at the required scale. The labour force reflects this failure,” he remarked.

Crawford also said the number of individuals with no qualifications has grown significantly, increasing from approximately 727,000 in 2020 to 887,000 in 2025.

“This represents a structural weakening of the economy, where participation is increasing, but capability is not,” he said.

— Lynford Simpson