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Unemployment in Sierra Leone: What can be Done?

Author: SEM Contributor

Unemployment is a condition of one who is able to work but unable to find a job.Â As unemployment continues, the individual gradually contracts many malaises like poverty, indebtedness, mental and physical disorders and even resort to criminal behavior in order to make ends meet. (Photograph: Joseph S. Sherman).

This issue of unemployment remains a big problem for Sierra Leone, notwithstanding its huge amount of natural resources.Â Therefore, the government of President Ernest Koroma needs to take systematic initiatives for a substantial reduction of unemployment.Â A very significant strategy for this can be the government’s greater initiative to impart skills training to a far greater number of such training seekers.

In order to speed up employment locally, the government will need to give greater attention to making available training advisory service, capital support and assistance to the country’s huge unemployed youths at the grassroots level.Â With such training and assistance, many self-employment projects can be opened up for youths in poultry breeding, livestock sector, and growing of novel agricultural products for exports among others.

Also, instead of limiting loans to foreign nationals whose tendencies are to launder money to their countries of origin, government should give priority to indigenous Sierra Leoneans and mandate the banking institutions to give loans to those desirous of doing business because starting business may be the start of a new life as thousands of disgruntled employees discover that business provides more security than government or corporate jobs.Â The reasons for stating business is as diverse as the individuals who make the decision to go out on their own and that will ultimately impact the individual and the economy.

Self-employment is one of the factors for permanent employment solution for an unstable business climate and is the key to the future prosperity of the family and the nation.Â Small business owners provide the foundation for the economy of not only the family but for the community.Â Although there are always inherent risk of starting a business but the advantage of a well thought out business plan and the implementation far outweigh the risks.

The government may also want to look at the expansion of skills training activities as gainful activities if conducted with some vision.Â For instance, government may conduct market survey of the sort of skills that have growing demand in the domestic as well as the international labor market. Accordingly, government can set up training establishments and programs and, no doubt, this involves some investments on the part of the government which in no doubt will promote economic and higher productivity

Joseph S. Sherman, is the Editor-in-Chief, of Footprint News, USA

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