More women than men have been trained through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) since 2020, with women accounting for more than 10,300 trainees compared with more than 8,200 men, BIT Chief Executive Officer Richard Maughn said.
The achievement was highlighted on Wednesday as the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning and BIT launched Guyana's first National Youth Skills Forum and Skill Search Expo in observance of World Youth Skills Day 2026. The event brought together government officials, employers, educators, development partners and young people to highlight the importance of skills development as Guyana's economy continues to expand.
Maughn said the organisation has impacted 18,587 individuals through 973 skills development programmes between 2020 and June 2026, with 73 per cent of graduates meaningfully employed or engaged in productive activities. Approximately $11.78 billion was invested in skills development during that period.
He said the figures reflect significant progress compared with a previous report issued in 2021, although he noted that important work remains to be done.
According to the latest Labour Market Survey, Guyana's overall unemployment rate has declined to 6.8 per cent, while youth unemployment has fallen from 30.2 per cent in 2020 to 12.1 per cent in 2024.
Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith said Guyana's rapid economic transformation requires a workforce equipped with modern technical, vocational and digital skills. He encouraged young people to take advantage of the training opportunities available through government programmes.
"The future of our country will not simply be inherited. It will be built by your skills, your determination and your ambition," Griffith said.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who also addressed the forum, said Guyana's economic growth has created opportunities at an unprecedented pace, resulting in demand for skilled workers outstripping supply. He said more than 104,000 new jobs were created during the Government's first five years, contributing to the reduction in unemployment.
"The youth unemployment rate in 2020 was 30.2 per cent. By 2024, the youth unemployment rate had been reduced by more than half, from 30.2 per cent in 2020 to 12.1 per cent in 2024," Dr Singh said.
He urged young Guyanese to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities being created through education, skills training and entrepreneurship.
"This is your time. Young people of Guyana, this is your time. Tomorrow's Guyana is yours. But you have to do what it takes to convert these opportunities," Dr Singh said.
The National Youth Skills Forum and Skill Search Expo featured panel discussions, employer engagement sessions and interactive exhibitions showcasing career opportunities in technical and vocational education, renewable energy, digital technology and other emerging sectors.