This study is the Fifth Employers’ Survey conducted in Trinidad by the National Training Agency (NTA) among employers within fourteen economic sectors of the economy.  Its aim is to provide demand side information on the Labour Market.  It provides information on key skills required by employers, the job vacancies that existed for the period June to December 2005 and it also captures emerging labour trends in the following sectors: Agriculture and Agribusiness; Assembly Type and Related Industries; Chemicals and Non-Metallic Minerals; Construction; Distribution; Energy; Finance; Insurance; Real Estate and Business Services; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Personal Services; Printing, Publishing and Paper Converters; Textiles, Footwear, Garments and Headwear; Tourism and Hospitality; Transport, Communication and Storage; and Wood and Wood Related Products. 

This study employed both quantitative and qualitative measures of data collection.  A stratified simple random sample of 1,442 registered establishments was chosen from the total population of 14,415.  This total population comprised all registered establishments collected in the NTA’s National Employers’ Census 2005.  144 enumerators were employed from different geographic locations for the data collection phase of this study. 

The findings of the survey are summarized as follows:

1. A sample of 10% (1,442) registered establishments was extracted from the 14,415 establishments of the Census.

2. This was comprised of 5,170 large and 9,245 small establishments were extracted.

3. The 1,442 sampled registered establishments employed 6,393 employees.

4. 42% of workers was employed in the manual staff category

5. 32% of workers was employed within the Distribution sector.

6. The majority of employers within Trinidad are individual proprietors (46%), or operate private local establishments (45%).

7. 540 job vacancies were found throughout the 14 sectors.

8. A total of 551 job opportunities have been predicted within the sampled sectors.

9. 67% of all establishments have been in operation for less than 11 years.

10. 55 job dislocations were found within the survey.

11. 22% of the respondents expected organizational change within the coming year.

12. 32% of establishments indicated that they offered staff training.

13. 5% of establishments require work permits.

14. 45% percent of employers indicated that ‘Honesty’ was the most important attribute required of a potential employee.