Skill Gap Slows Caribbean Digital Transformation: Study

Digital transformation in the Caribbean is facing delays, largely due to a lack of skilled workers needed to integrate new technologies, according to a recent survey of more than 2,500 businesses conducted by Symptai Consulting for regional telecom company Digicel.

While more organizations are embracing digital transformation, with the number increasing from 61% in 2022 to 77% in 2024, 60% of companies report that they are struggling to implement these strategies.

The biggest challenge is the lack of skilled workers to integrate new tech solutions into company networks, with 35% of respondents citing system integration issues as a key barrier.

Additionally, 34% of businesses face delays due to operational issues consuming key resources, while 31% report a lack of senior-level focus and priority setting as another major obstacle.

Despite these hurdles, sectors such as hospitality, financial services, and government are making significant strides in digital transformation. According to projections, the use of digital technology in the Caribbean will increase from 44% in 2021 to 95% in 2025.

Marlon Cooper, CEO of Symptai, highlighted the potential impact of digitalization: “A digitally transformed Caribbean could become an exporter of technology products and services, driving innovation and making it easier to do business. With most services online, we could see a boom in entrepreneurship, seamless tax collection, and greater trust in e-solutions.”