Employment Minister Defends Government’s 150,000 Job Creation Pledge, Cites Economic Growth

By Makutu Manneh

The Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, Mod K. Ceesay, has defended the government’s commitment to create 150,000 jobs for young Gambians within five years, stating that the country’s expanding economy provides strong prospects for employment generation.

The pledge was first announced by Adama Barrow during his 2022 “Meet the People Tour,” where he assured citizens that his administration would deliver 150,000 jobs under the National Employment Policy and Action Plan (NEAP) 2022–2027.

Speaking in an interview on QTV on Tuesday, Minister Ceesay said an exact figure of jobs created so far is not currently available, noting that no comprehensive census has yet been conducted to determine the number.

“Remember, this 150,000 is both public and private sector jobs,” he explained. “We can wait for the assessment, and certainly, we are on the verge of conducting this assessment to determine how many jobs have been created.”

The minister expressed optimism that the government could surpass its target, citing ongoing economic expansion and the scale of public sector projects being implemented across the country.

Responding to concerns about continued irregular migration among young people despite the government’s employment drive, Minister Ceesay attributed the trend partly to longstanding social perceptions that overseas travel is the only viable path to success.

He said the government is working to create an enabling environment where young people can access education, acquire skills, and take advantage of emerging opportunities in a growing economy.

“We have seen expansion in industry; agricultural farming and the higher education sector are undergoing phenomenal transformation, particularly in the creation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities,” he noted.

Minister Ceesay argued that the claim of a complete absence of job opportunities is not accurate, though he acknowledged that opportunities may not be sufficient or created quickly enough to meet the needs of all young people. “It may not be fast enough and adequate for everybody to stay.”

He further stated that the issue is not the departure of young people from the country, but rather the irregular and unsafe means by which many undertake the journey.

The government’s employment target continues to form a central pillar of its broader economic development strategy, with officials indicating that a comprehensive assessment of progress is expected in the near future.