YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES IN THE GAMBIA ALIEU K. JAMMEH MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION YOUTH DEMOGRAPHICS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT WAY FORWARD

YOUTH DEMOGRAPHICS Young people make up almost a fifth of the world’s population. 85 percent of the over 1 billion young men and women between the ages of 15 and 24 live in developing countries By 2025, one in every four young people worldwide will be from Sub-Saharan Africa In the ECOWAS region, the youth constitute more than 33 percent of the population of the region.

CONT. In the Gambia, over 50 percent of the population are young people This gives a significant opportunity. If capital is available and if the skills needed to compete are nurtured, the youth will constitute a major comparative advantage and be a force for positive change

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Government policies: –Youth Policy –MOYS 5 year strategic plan –Employment Policy –Education Policy Government Programs: –NYSS –PIA –NEDI –GAMJOBs –GTTI

CONT. Other programs: –Agriculture –Fisheries

CHALLENGES OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT Un-representation and under- representation in policy debates Attitude Access to resources such as land and finance

WAYFORWARD Put youth and employment at the top of development agenda Give special attention to youth entrepreneurship Poverty reduction through private sector-led growth. Research shows that nine out of ten jobs in the developing world are in the private sector and private companies are the main long term source of jobs and income

CONT. Demand driven education Increases in productivity and labor intensive industrialization that can create many jobs, for example the Green Industries. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) presents significant opportunities for employment generation.

CONT. Help young entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas, dynamic energies into profitable businesses