Keeping J’cans employed
JAMPRO and HEART prepare workforce for BPO job surge
MORE JAMAICANS will soon be able to take advantage of the many employment opportunities in the fast-growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector through training initiatives spearheaded by JAMPRO, the national trade and investment promotion agency, and the Human Employment and Resource Training Trust/National Training Agency (HEART Trust/NTA).
The agencies have partnered to develop a training programme that will equip Jamaicans with the skills needed to meet the immediate demands of the BPO sector, which currently employs 25,000 persons and is poised for tremendous growth in the coming years. Claude Duncan, JAMPRO’s vice-president of investment promotion, noted that preparing the labour pool for BPO jobs was vital to the continued success of the sector.
“Ensuring a well-trained talent pool is essential to the expansion of the BPO industry and to the country as a whole. As more
companies invest and look to increase their operations, we will need qualified people to meet the needs of the industry,” Duncan said.
He explained that working with HEART Trust/NTA was central to the strategy of developing the country’s human capital. Duncan added that the agencies
have been working closely to ensure the programme is on track to deliver the desired results in due course.
SEAT AT THE TABLE
Dr Wayne Wesley, executive director of HEART Trust/NTA, stated that this strategic alignment with JAMPRO has given the national training agency first-hand information on the workforce requirements needed to push the sector forward.
“Through this partnership, we are able to have a seat at the table with JAMPRO, players in the BPO sector and potential investors. This gives us a clearer view of what is required of the workforce and we can better prepare them to have an immediate impact on the productivity of the BPO companies,” said Wesley.
He advised that HEART Trust/NTA is currently involved in programmes that target school leavers, tertiary students, graduates, employed professionals as well as at risk and underserved youths. Wesley also pointed out that the training curricula covered the technical skills needed to secure a job as well as soft skills to improve employability such as communications, social skills, professionalism and business etiquette. He added that the scope of training includes partnerships with select tertiary institutions.