Skills on Demand portal to benefit all Jamaicans – PM Holness

Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure in his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 21).

“If you need a plumber to fix a leak at your house, you will be able to go on the Skills on Demand portal and identify plumbing professionals who have registered and have verified certification from HEART,” Mr. Holness said.

He explained that skilled professionals will be able to advertise their skills, their previous employer ratings and their current location to potential employers and clients.

“Potential employers and clients will benefit from access to an array of talent that has been vetted, and they will have the ability to post specific job openings to individuals with the required skills,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that by training and upskilling Jamaica’s workforce, the vicious cycle of a low-wage economy can be broken.

“A skilled labour force is an attraction in itself for investments and location of high-productivity jobs. Labour will drive growth and create a virtuous cycle of productivity and prosperity for all,” the Prime Minister argued.