By Kemo Kanyi
A political scientist at the University of The Gambia, Biran Gai, has raised doubts over government claims that 163,000 jobs have been created, saying the figure lacks clear and verifiable statistical backing.
Last week, the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services announced that government had exceeded its earlier target of 150,000 jobs, as promised by President Adama Barrow in 2024.
However, in an interview with The Voice, Mr. Gai questioned the methodology behind the figures, saying the announcement did not clearly define the types of jobs being referenced.
He asked whether the figures included formal employment, informal work, agricultural labour, or short-term construction jobs, arguing that such distinctions were essential for proper labour analysis.
“I think they do not exist, and therefore, at the moment, we could just assume that they are politically misleading, especially now that we are in election season,” he said.
Gai said that while the figures might appear impressive, they require independent verification and clearer breakdowns to establish their accuracy.
He further suggested that some of the reported employment might be linked to temporary construction activities, where workers were engaged for short periods before contracts end.
The lecturer also pointed to the latest Gambia Labour Force Survey, saying its data appears to contradict the government’s claims, making the figures difficult to verify.
“I think the numbers there kind of mismatch with what the government is reporting, and therefore it becomes very difficult for that information to be verifiable,” he added.
Mr. Gai said he was not entirely dismissing the government’s claim but stressed that without supporting data, the announcement risked being misleading if not properly explained.