An Education Needs Assessment of CARIFORUM Firms

Figure 10 outlines the demand for general training areas across the region, many of which are in

value-added services. Popular areas in need of skills development as identified by the surveyed

businesses were marketing and advertising (44.6%), export-related training (44.4%), e-commerce

training (39.3%), grant funding/proposal writing training (37.5%), and accounting and financial

training (36.3%). Some businesses further specified safety and health training and technical and

vocational education training as “Other” general training needs not captured under the list in Figure

10. Many of the identified training needs validate the relevance of some of the previous studies

highlighted in the desk research which although dated pointed towards a need for business skills

(business plan creation, marketing, accounting, and other business development services) and ICT

skills across all sectors. Regarding perceived importance, increasing priority is being placed on

marketing and advertising training (45.4%), export-related training (44.1%), e-commerce training

(38.8%), and grant-funding training (37.8%) while the importance attached to the other identified

training areas appear relatively balanced (see Figure 11).

Figure 10: General areas of training identified by businesses

Select any general area(s) of training that your business most needs (Select only those that apply)

Other (please specify)

4.4%

Trade/Business Negotiations Training

29.2%

Strategic Planning Training (e.g., designing and implementing…

24.4%

Market Access Training (e.g. customs, duties, shipping and…

0.0%

Human Resource Management Training

18.9%

Grant/Funding Proposal Writing Training

37.5%

Marketing and Advertising Training

44.6%

Supervisory and/or First Line Management Training

0.0%

Project Management Training

23.7%

Management Training

22.5%

Export-related Training (e.g. training in export promotion,…

44.4%

Entrepreneurial Training (e.g. setting up a new business, securing…

25.1%

E-commerce Training (e.g. online selling/buying; setting up…

39.3%

Digital Skills Training

29.4%

Customer Service Training

Business Development Training (e.g. business plan writing)

23.4%23.9%

Business Economics and Statistics Training

15.6%

Accounting and Financial Training

36.3%

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