CAPRI Estimates Economic Boost if State Subsidise Cost of Care for Some Parents

The Caribbean Policy Research Institute, CAPRI, says the state should subsidise the cost of care responsibilities for working and job-seeking parents.

That’s among the recommendations in CAPRI’s latest report on the labour force. The report is titled ‘Outside In: Increasing Participation in the Labour Force’.

Daina Davy has our story.

CAPRI says it has concluded that approximately 411,000 people between the ages of 18 and 70 are outside the labour force.

Lead Researcher at CAPRI, Dr. Kelly-Ann Dixon Hamil, says of that number, 15,000 want to join the labour force but cannot because of care responsibilities.

She says care responsibilities include taking care of younger children, looking after senior citizens and managing routine doctor’s visits for sick elderly family members.

But, Dr. Dixon Hamil says if these Jamaicans could be afforded the opportunity to work, it would increase the country’s gross domestic product by 2 per cent.

Dr. Dixon Hamil says the state could help this group of job seekers by issuing vouchers through the Steps to Work programme.

The Steps to Work programme provides interventions aimed at facilitating a structured system for assisting working-age members of poor families seek and retain employment.