Coyol Free Zone has multiple educational programs that promote the availability of trained talent for companies, in addition to being the first Free Zone in Costa Rica in which dual education was incorporated.
Given the prolific creation of employment in the country thanks to the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and the arrival of multinational companies operating in the Free Trade Zone Regime (FTZR), training people to fill these positions has become a priority for Costa Rica.
The Free Trade Zone Regime serves as a key driver of economic growth, fostering formal, inclusive, and quality employment. Currently, companies in this sector create 248,000 jobs in Costa Rica.
As a dynamic and constantly growing sector, companies need skilled talent for their operations, and the country is committed to provide the necessary educational tools through public-private partnerships.
Companies are seeking employees with diverse skills, including proficiency in a second language and at least a high school education. In some situations, failing to meet these requirements can prevent individuals from accessing formal employment opportunities, as indicated by a report of Estado de la Nación for 2024.
Education has been public, mandatory, and free in Costa Rica since 1869, allowing the most vulnerable population to acquire the necessary skills for employment. Additionally, this country allocates 8% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to fund education.
Improving access to employment in Costa Rica
Although the unemployment rate in Costa Rica is decreasing gradually, the latest Estado de la Nación report outlines some recommendations that could lead to more equal access to available job positions:
- Define a National Employment Policy that includes the government, the employer sector, and workers.
- Provide subsidies and temporary tax incentives to companies with high potential for increased production and quality job creation, prioritizing the employment of individuals facing labor disadvantages, such as young people and women.
- Establish a governing body to provide support to domestic companies and create job opportunities.
- Strengthen the educational capacities and employability of the population through access to quality formal education and training to acquire skills.
- Consolidate dual education, connecting the educational system with the productive sector, thus reducing youth unemployment.
- Design policies to help women enter the labor market.
The role of Coyol Free Zone in talent development
Coyol Free Zone has multiple educational programs that promote the availability of trained talent for companies, in addition to being the first Free Zone in Costa Rica in which dual education was incorporated.
Our main program is Coyol Te Prepara, an educational and social training initiative, aimed at helping individuals improve their educational skills to secure employment.
This program encompasses educational initiatives, such as the Manufacturing Operator Course, Bachicoyol (high school completion program), the catalog of free courses provided by the National Learning Institute (INA), and bilingualism efforts, which facilitates English language learning for students in technical fields associated with medical device companies.
Read: 2,000 people trained to work in the Life Sciences Industry
Another of our programs is Intégrate a Coyol, a joint initiative articulated with local governments, which purpose is to provide the appropriate training and education to future candidates to hold manufacturing positions, covering topics related to the Medical Devices industry and general aspects of our free trade zone.
Let’s not underestimate the significant role played by Coyol Free Zone in Costa Rica’s dual education model, which emphasizes the early training of students in technical careers.
In 2022, three prominent companies in the Park – Abbott Medical, SMC Ltd., and Coopervision – actively participated in dual education, showcasing their commitment to fostering a skilled workforce for the future.
As a result of these initiatives, we have supported the creation of 23,796 direct high-quality jobs in the 34 companies operating in our Park.
Source: Estado de la Nación