The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and save time is rapidly gaining recognition in Jamaica, with one stakeholder now examining how the technology can positively transform the local labour force. Speaking at the 2025 Labour Market Forum held recently under the theme ‘AI and Us: The New Machine-Human Partnership’, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Dr Wayne Henry said that AI is poised to be a key driver of economic transformation.
He noted that AI not only offers tools to increase efficiency and productivity, but also unlocks new economic opportunities. Beyond contributing to Jamaica’s Vision 2030 goals and enhancing global competitiveness, the technology, he said also presents a viable pathway to higher-value employment, particularly in digital services, data science, and advanced analytics.
“Artificial intelligence offers immense opportunities to boost productivity, unlock entrepreneurial potential and to create new and higher-value jobs in the Jamaican labour market and it is already transforming significant aspects of our society. For instance, AI could help farmers to predict weather patterns and manage crops using prior data, while in tourism, it could improve customer service through AI-powered data,” Henry stated.
