The Centre has its genesis in the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). In 1965 the Union felt that with Independence due the next year, emphasis should be placed on manpower development of local people. Consequently, the GTUC sought financial and technical assistance from the American Institute of Free Labour Development (AIFLD) to commence a training programme. AIFLD in turn sought help from USAID, which provided a grant sufficient to construct a training facility and to operate it for three years. That facility is the GITC.
GITC was incorporated on 14th December, 1966 under the Companies Ordinance, as a private, non-profit organization with the mandate of providing industrial education to Guyanese citizens. Located at the corners of Woolford Avenue and Albert Street, the GITC building was constructed in 1968 with USAID funds. It was initially managed by a Board comprised of representatives of the labor movement, the Government of Guyana, and senior management of the institution.
While GITC has maintained its non-profit nature and its mandate, it is no longer a private organization but a government institution. At the handing over of the institution to the government, it was placed under the Ministry of Labor and Social Security but in 1972 it was transferred to the Ministry of Education and has remained there.