By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services has defended recent government statements on employment growth, clarifying that official labour market statistics from the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) show a significant increase in the number of Gambians employed between 2022/23 and 2026. In a press release issued on Friday, the Ministry stated that the latest GBoS report, titled “The Gambia Labour Market: Progress and Trends, GLFS 2022-23 (Q1) to GLFS 2026 (Q1),” recorded an increase of 163,660 employed persons over the period under review. According to the report, the number of employed people rose from 563,395 in 2022/23 to 727,055 in 2026. The labour force also increased by 165,938 persons, while the unemployment rate declined from 7.6 percent to 6.2 percent. The Ministry explained that the report uses the technical term “labour absorption” to describe the increase in employment and clarified that the figures do not represent only jobs directly created by government institutions. However, officials stressed that the data reflects the economy’s growing ability to engage more Gambians in productive economic activities. “In practical terms, over 163,000 more Gambians are now employed compared to 2022/23,” the statement noted, describing the trend as a major labour market improvement consistent with the government’s broader economic agenda. The Ministry further highlighted several positive indicators contained in the report, including an increase in labour force participation from 43.6 percent to 54.5 percent and a rise in the employment-to-population ratio from 40.3 percent to 51.1 percent. It also pointed to improvements in youth employment and a decline in labour underutilisation as signs of positive economic momentum. The statement rejected what it described as attempts to draw a “misleading distinction” between employment growth and jobs created for political reasons, insisting that official data clearly shows that more Gambians are working today than in 2022/23. At the same time, the Ministry acknowledged ongoing structural challenges within the labour market, particularly high levels of informality and the need for more formal wage employment opportunities. It said the Barrow administration remains focused on industrialisation, skills development, MSME support, agriculture modernisation, infrastructure investment, and private sector growth under the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to communicating official data responsibly and accurately to the public. Post navigation Former GALA Youth Member Accuses Movement of Political Bias UMC Elects Talib Bensouda as Movement Leader Ahead of 2026 Elections