By: Fatou Krubally
The government has defended figures showing that more than 163,000 new jobs were created between 2023 and 2026, as lawmakers demanded greater clarity on the methodology behind the latest labour force survey.
The issue arose during questions directed to the Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Mod K. Ceesay at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
According to the minister, preliminary findings from the first quarter 2026 Labour Force Survey indicate that employment increased from 563,395 persons in 2023 to 727,055 in 2026, representing an increase of 163,660 employed persons.
He further stated that the labour force expanded from 609,410 to 775,348 people during the same period, reflecting increased participation in the labour market.
The minister said the figures suggest that a significant number of Gambians entering the labour force had successfully secured employment.
However, lawmakers sought further details regarding the survey’s sampling methods, rural and urban weighting systems, and unemployment statistics among women and youth.
While unable to provide the technical details during the session, the minister said the full report, prepared by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, would be published by the end of June and would contain comprehensive data.
The exchange comes amid growing public interest in employment trends and the effectiveness of government efforts to create jobs, particularly for young people and women.