The Gambian government says it has exceeded the target of creating 150,000 jobs set by President Adama Barrow, with more than 163,000 new jobs recorded between 2023 and 2026, according to a national labor market report published on Wednesday.
Titled “The Gambia Labour Market: Progress and Trends, GLFS 2022-23 (Q1) to GLFS 2026 (Q1)”, the report highlights significant employment growth in the country over the past three years. It was prepared by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, with support from the International Labour Organization and the World Bank-funded HISWACA project.
According to official figures shared by the Ministry of Information, the labor force participation rate rose from 43.6% in 2023 to 54.5% in 2026. At the same time, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 40.3% to 51.1%.
The report also notes a decline in unemployment, which fell from 7.6% to 6.2%, while overall underemployment dropped from 31.6% to 23.6%. Authorities see this as a sign of sustained improvement in the labor market and economic recovery.
The government attributes these results to ongoing post-pandemic recovery, investments in key sectors, and structural reforms implemented in recent years.
In its statement, the Ministry of Information said these outcomes reflect President Adama Barrow’s commitment to inclusive growth, focused on industrialization, skills development, women’s economic empowerment, rural development, and stronger social protection.
