Unemployment

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As youths yearn for quick generational change, Labor Minister Varbah Gayflor has alarmed that unemployment and underemployment among them were impeding economic gains in postwar Liberia, as well as posing security threats to the country.

She made the assertion Wednesday at the SKD Sports complex in Paynesville following a three-day sectoral meeting on the Draft National Employment Policy Action Plan.

The dialogue on the national employment policy action plan aims at finding ways that could narrow the growing unemployment gap among the youthful population, by providing them productive employment opportunities and skills training initiatives.

She read a 5-count resolution that recognized persistent youth underemployment and unemployment as risk factors that could reverse the gains of economic recovery and pose political and economic security threats to the country.

It affirmed government’s commitment toward creating 20,000 new jobs annually for the youths as a high priority.

Therefore, stakeholders at the sectoral meeting agreed “to collectively and effectively take all considered actions to implement the revised action plan of the National Employment Policy 2012 to 2016.

They also agreed “to establish a coalition for job creation for Liberians and set a Platform as a forum for consultation and call to action.”    

The sectoral meeting involved the ministries of Labor, Youth and Sports, Education, Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Public Works, Agriculture, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Liberian Labor Congress that agreed to create 20,000 new jobs yearly for Liberia’s exploding youth population. 

Mrs. Gayflor said the coalition for job creation platform would meet quarterly to review progress on decisions taken, as well as report on the initiatives of the action plan on the National Employment Policy.