The Gambia government has acknowledged findings from a new national labour market report showing major improvements in employment, labour force participation and economic recovery across the country.

The report, titled “The Gambia Labour Market: Progress and Trends, GLFS 2022-23 (Q1) to GLFS 2026 (Q1)”, was produced by Gambia Bureau of Statistics in collaboration 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 the report, labour force participation rose from 43.6 percent in 2023 to 54.5 percent in 2026, while the employment-to-population ratio increased from 40.3 percent to 51.1 percent over the same period.

The findings further showed that employment increased by more than 163,000 people, reflecting what the report described as growing economic activity and increased labour absorption across key sectors of the economy.

Unemployment also declined from 7.6 percent to 6.2 percent, while overall labour underutilisation dropped from 31.6 percent to 23.6 percent.

The report attributed the improvements to continued post-pandemic economic recovery, investments in key sectors and broader structural changes within the economy.

The findings also come amid President Adama Barrow’s earlier pledge to create 150,000 jobs during his administration.

Government officials said the latest figures, which indicate that more than 163,000 jobs have been created, represent a significant milestone toward fulfilling that commitment and expanding employment opportunities across the country.

By Adama Makasuba