Discrimination against transgender and gender-diverse persons constitutes a barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 5, 8 and 10.

Addressing discrimination is critical to achieving SDG 8, which emphasizes decent work and economic growth. Transgender individuals often face workplace discrimination and unemployment, depriving them of opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the economy. By creating inclusive labour markets and ensuring transgender persons have access to fair employment opportunities, the region can unlock their potential as contributors to sustainable economic development. This would enhance productivity, innovation and social cohesion, benefiting society as a whole.

Empowering transgender persons to participate fully in the workforce and economy strengthens national resilience as well as accelerates progress towards a more prosperous and inclusive future for all.

This study aims to contribute to the generation of evidence to support the design and implementation of policies to move towards labour inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse persons in Barbados, Guyana, and Jamaica.