More than 16,000 people across Guyana have been trained by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) over the last five years, with about 77 per cent now employed, according to Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith.
Speaking on the Starting Point Podcast, Griffith said the training programmes have been central to the government’s push to address labour shortages and prepare Guyanese to take advantage of the country’s rapid development.
“In the last five years, we’ve trained over 16,000 persons,” the minister said, while noting that the training has translated into real opportunities for many participants.
He explained that, based on tracer studies conducted by the ministry, the majority of those trained through BIT are now employed, with many also going on to establish their own businesses.
“We are seeing not just a training certificate, but we’re seeing transformation in lives,” Griffith said.
The minister noted that BIT, which operates under the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, has been decentralised so that training is now available in every region.
He said that young people and adults can access programmes near their communities and receive recognised skills certification upon completion.
According to Griffith, the government has allocated $2.5 billion this year specifically for technical and vocational training, with programmes being delivered through several ministries, including the Ministry of Labour.
He said BIT’s offerings cover a broad range of technical and vocational fields and are designed to meet the needs of Guyana’s changing labour market.
Among the areas of training highlighted were electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, welding and fabrication, plumbing, commercial food preparation, cosmetology, digital marketing, drone technology, website development, sustainable farming, and soap and candle making.
Griffith also underscored the ministry’s focus on inclusion, noting that nearly 500 persons living with disabilities were trained through BIT over the past five years. In the last year alone, 107 persons with disabilities benefited from the programmes.
He said the ministry has worked to remove barriers to participation by ensuring trainees receive stipends, materials, and support needed to complete the courses.
“All you need to do is be 16 years old. You don’t need to have any qualification,” the minister said, adding that trainees are supported from enrolment straight through to certification.
Women, he added, have also been leading participation in the training programmes. Of the more than 16,000 persons trained over the past five years, 9,331 were women compared to 7,021 men.
Griffith said women have not only dominated traditionally female-oriented programmes, but have also made strong inroads into fields typically viewed as male-dominated.
He disclosed that 386 women were trained in electrical installation, while 500 women were trained in heavy-duty equipment operation, alongside others in photovoltaic installation and repairs, tractor operation and maintenance, and welding and fabrication.
The minister said the shift shows that women are playing a direct role in Guyana’s transformation by entering technical fields linked to major development projects.
BIT, he added, has existed for more than 100 years and remains a key institution in equipping Guyanese with marketable skills.
Griffith said the training programmes are especially important at a time when Guyana is facing a labour shortage amid expanding economic activity across sectors, including oil and gas, construction, mining, and agro-processing.
He maintained that the ministry’s approach is to ensure Guyanese are trained, certified, and positioned to fill the jobs being created as the country continues to grow.
