Creating and sustaining economic growth through human resources in the Caribbean

This paper focuses on how the human resource function can be used as a pillar in Caribbean and other regions in creating national and regional economic and social growth. The approach is based on the premise that organisational human resource policies can, if properly configured, provide a direct and economically significant contribution to firm performance. The focus, therefore, lies on improving firm performance as a means of creating national and regional economic and social growth. The example of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is used, highlighting the role that strategic HR can play in the region's economic development. In examining the challenges facing the region, it is easy to determine that the pillar of the economic development strategy rests with the workforce of the respective nations. CARICOM is a region faced with high levels of poverty, illiteracy, lack of expertise and skills, and frequently employees frustrated with systems, policies, and resigned to merely trying to survive. Given these conditions, how can HR strategies systematically create meaningful changes and enable productivity at the individual and organisational levels, and foster national and regional economic growth?