Stakeholders: Improved Productivity Essential For Economic Growth

Economist Dr. Adrian Stokes says improvement in labour productivity is essential for the continued transformation of the Jamaican economy.

His comment follows the latest data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica, PIOJ, which indicates that the economy grew by 1.9 per cent for the period January to March this year.

Dr. Adrian Stokes, economist.

The goods producing sector grew by 3 per cent while the Services sector grew by 1.6 per cent.

Manufacturing grew by 2 per cent, an outturn described as not good enough by president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, JMEA, Sydney Thwaites.

Sydney Thwaites, president of the JMEA.

Both Dr. Stokes and Mr Thwaites were speaking during Nationwide at Five on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in reacting to the 4.5 per cent decline in construction, managing director of Selogen Limited, Devon Sterling, says the boom in the industry is seemingly over.

Devon Sterling, managing director of Selogen Limited.