The Government of Anguilla will officially launch the collection of data for Anguilla’s 1st Labour Market Survey. The collection of the Anguilla Labour Market Survey (ALMS) data will focus on businesses. This new statistical initiative is intended to improve the capacity to undertake the process addressing skills needs and in conjunction with other information anticipate and match skills in Anguilla.
Education, skills and training are important components required to assist in preparing the labour force of any country. In an attempt to strengthen the institutionalisation and development of medium and long-term national planning frameworks many component pieces of data are required. A vital component of these areas are reliable indicators necessary to undertake effective economic and social planning.
With financial support from the European Union (EU), the Government of Anguilla, Anguilla Statistics Department (ASD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through the Education Planning Unit (EPU) will conduct the first Anguilla Labour Market Survey (ALMS), with technical assistance from Equinoccio/Ramboll. This work will support the EPU in forecasting and matching skills need and jobs. The survey will provide the data to begin the process of addressing potential gaps between skill supply and demand as well as enabling skills providers, young people, policymakers, employers and workers in making better educational and training choices. The intention to increase Anguilla’s capacities in economic planning, reduce unemployment rates, support businesses to access qualified labour force and to strengthen its financial resilience.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is one entity that is significantly impacted by the absence of the labour force and market indicators. With the new thrust and emphasis on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), to meet labour market demands and support economic development, the MOE should be able to make informed decisions regarding skills development and those offered by the Education sector. There is a critical need to undertake a process of skills needs anticipation and matching to address the Anguillan context and address the skills mismatch between labour supply and demand, and a general disconnect between the Education sector and industry through the calculation and use of indicators and indices derived from the Labour Force and Market Survey.
Quality, trusted labour market statistics will strengthen Anguilla’s capacity to analyse the skills and training needs required in the private sector and make informed decisions in budgetary and investment planning.
Source: Anguilla Statistics Department