The Role of Youth Organizations in Preparing Young People for the Workplace: The Case of Antigua and Barbuda

The current Fourth Industrial Revolution and the knowledge economy have resulted in economic growth being increasingly driven by human-resource-related factors of production instead of natural-resource-related factors of the past. This has resulted in a skills gap in the workforce which the formal education system needs assistance in filling. This study explores the role and potential of youth organizations in doing this. Prior studies have focused on youth-led youth organizations, or adult-led youth organizations that engage youths in summer camps only. This study expands on research in this area by focusing on faith-based, civic and state-controlled youth organizations in Antigua and Barbuda.  Using an exploratory, interpretivist qualitative approach, this study involves four such organizations in a multiple case study research design. Four broad aspects of the targeted organizations were examined: their functions aims and objectives, pedagogical approaches, their curricula and their training and certification protocols. Data was collected using personal interviews, focus group discussions, non-participant observations and document analysis. The data was analyzed qualitatively using codes and themes. Findings confirm prior studies that these organizations are nurturing the development of 21^st century workplace skills in significant ways. New findings might be that they are in a prime position so to do and have several areas of commonalities between their curriculum and the formal curriculum. Stakeholders in the education landscape of Antigua and Barbuda and elsewhere should exploit these areas of synergies and further research can explore the most effective ways of doing so.