In an attempt to boost its stock of human capital and access to global flows of investment, knowledge and innovation, the Jamaican state has begun to turn to skilled members of its diaspora as a vital and untapped economic resource. State strategies to accumulate human capital within the diaspora, however, raise questions about the culture of labour markets and their effects on human capital enhancement and the transfer of knowledge. Drawing on the labour market experiences of skilled members of the Jamaican diaspora currently living on the island, I explore the possibilities and limits that skilled diaspora network strategies offer for capturing, transforming and embedding knowledge, innovation and investment capital in Jamaica. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd & Global Networks Partnership.

Jamaica Social networks Diaspora Skilled migrants Neoliberalism Labour markets

Economic analysis Jamaica capital market island Skilled migrants social network labour market diaspora social networks neoliberalism labor market employment Commerce investment Social networking (online)