Labour Market Opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago's Blue Economy

Abstract

The blue economy encompasses economic activities that occur in the ocean and seas. For a small island developing state (SIDS) such as Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), the exclusive economic zone tends to be significantly larger than its land mass. Therefore, there is an important need to leverage the blue economy to sustain economic activity and livelihoods for the country's people. While several blue economy opportunities can be highlighted within T&T, in practice, the scope and scale remain below the potential, largely due to the blue economy not being fully leveraged as a driver for economic activity, especially among the youth. A blue economy strategy that immerses the youth in marine industries with strengthened forward and backward linkages, will help foster more economic activity, attract investment, and build resilience to economic shocks.