Gambian youth are central to the nation's economic development through various skills work initiatives, primarily driven by programmes.
The National Development Plan (NDP) is aimed at enhancing youth skills in market-relevant sectors such as agriculture, tourism and digital services.
Efforts in realizing this initiative include technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship support and access to finance, with the goal of creating jobs, reducing irregular migration and contributing to a green economy.
The EU's Emergency Trust Fund for Africa aims at implementing a market-led approach to enhance youth employability and entrepreneurship.
The government's strategy emphasizes youth employment and skills development, particularly in labour-intensive sectors, aligning with international efforts to empower the youth workforce.
The programmes focus on providing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) tailored to the demands of priority sectors, including agriculture, tourism, ICT, fashion, and construction.
Jobs, Skills and Finance (JSF) for Women and Youth programmes promotes skills for a green economy, with a focus on renewable energy, sustainable construction and eco-tourism.
Youth Empowerment Project supports the creation of Micro and Small-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing access to finance and market linkages, fostering a culture of self-employment for youth.
Several efforts are made to build value chains in key sectors, creating more opportunities and contributing to economic growth.
Projects such as Tekki Fii have created thousands of jobs and fostered an environment where every youth is trained, as additional jobs are created.
Over 5,000 young Gambians have received vocational training, with a focus on skills that align with market demands.
Numerous programmes in The Gambia are focused on improving youth skills and boosting employment, especially through vocational training and entrepreneurship initiatives.
However, high youth unemployment and challenges in matching skills with job market demands persist.
A recent Gambia Labour Force Survey reported that youth unemployment stands at 11.5%, a significant portion of the total national unemployment rate of 8.3%.
A major challenge is the skills deficit among young Gambians. Many lack the necessary training and experience to secure gainful employment, particularly in high-demand fields such as IT, electrical engineering, and plumbing.
Youth in rural areas are disproportionately affected by poverty and limited access to essential services, exacerbating employment challenges.
A substantial portion of the youth labour force is underutilised. This includes discouraged job seekers who want to work but have stopped looking and those who haven't sought work due to lack of skills or experience.
A persistent issue is the gap between the education and training received by youth and the skills actually needed by the labour market.
Strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is considered crucial for bridging this gap.
Informal employment accounts for the vast majority of jobs in The Gambia, with a disproportionate number of young women working in this sector.
