The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour Launch Youth Outcome Compact to Address Youth Unemployment through Labor Market Integration

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour Launch Youth Outcome Compact to Address Youth Unemployment through Labor Market Integration.

Paynesville, Liberia – The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a permanent structural framework for inter-ministerial cooperation on youth employment, skills development, and labour market integration – the first instrument under the Ministry of Youth and Sports Youth Outcome Compact.

The Youth Outcome Compact is the Ministry’s mechanism through which ministries whose mandates directly affect Liberia’s young people will be held to shared, publicly reported accountability targets. A technical working group has been set up to implement the MoU.

As an immediate outcome of the collaboration, the two ministries announced plans to facilitate vacation employment opportunities for at least 3,000 young people across the country in 2026.

As an immediate outcome of the collaboration, the two ministries announced plans to facilitate vacation employment opportunities for at least 3,000 young people across the country. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the government's efforts to address unemployment and promote youth development.

"The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have major roles to play in Liberia's employment sector and youth development agenda," Minister Kruah said. "By working together, we will be better positioned to achieve the objectives for which our institutions were established."

He noted that the initiative would serve as "a dream come true" for many young Liberians seeking opportunities for employment and skills development.

"President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has consistently emphasized the importance of job creation for Liberians. Although many efforts are underway, the public is often unaware of the opportunities being created. This partnership will serve as an important channel for disseminating information on employment opportunities and labor market developments," he stated.

According to Minister Kruah, the collaboration will enable both institutions to combine their comparative advantages. While the Ministry of Youth and Sports utilizes its nationwide youth structures and communication platforms to engage young people, the Ministry of Labor will continue working closely with the private sector to identify employment opportunities.

He emphasized that the establishment of a Technical Working Group under the MOU would ensure effective implementation of all provisions contained in the agreement.

"This signing marks the beginning of another chapter for both ministries. Through the technical working group and other implementation mechanisms, we intend to ensure that every provision of this MOU translates into meaningful results for our people—especially young people seeking jobs, workers in need of additional opportunities, and those requiring further training," he said.

Minister Kruah further commended Youth and Sports Minister Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah for initiating the collaboration.

"Although she has been in office for a relatively short period, she has demonstrated tremendous creativity and commitment. She has traveled extensively across the country, identified critical programs for young people, and we are pleased to partner with her to ensure these initiatives succeed in the interest of Liberia's youth," he added.

For her part, Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, described the MOU as a significant step toward achieving a more coordinated and holistic approach to youth empowerment.

"Today is a significant day for the Ministry of Youth and Sports because this agreement represents one step toward the holistic direction we intend to take," she said. "From the moment we assumed leadership, one of our priorities has been to strengthen collaboration among government institutions in support of the youth sector."

Minister Kruah explained that the Ministry has conceptualized what it calls the 'Youth Impact Compact'—a framework aimed at fostering collaboration among government institutions whose mandates directly impact young people.

"We recognize that while the Ministry of Youth and Sports serves as the focal point for youth affairs, every ministry and agency has a role to play because the majority of the population we serve consists of young people. The Ministry of Labor is the first institution with which we are entering into this structured framework, and we hope to replicate this model across other government entities," she noted.

She highlighted the complementary roles of both ministries, particularly in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

"At the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we focus heavily on youth development and skills training. The Ministry of Labor, meanwhile, works closely with private-sector employers seeking individuals with technical competencies. This partnership allows us to intentionally and strategically increase the number of jobs available to young Liberians."

Minister Kruah emphasized that the agreement would reduce duplication of efforts and improve efficiency in the use of limited government resources.

"We want to ensure that ministries are not funding similar activities independently. By coordinating our efforts and pooling resources, we can collectively design and implement impactful programs that yield greater results for young people," she said.

The Minister also disclosed plans to strengthen the dissemination of job advertisements by utilizing MYS's extensive youth structures and digital platforms in all fifteen counties.

"If employment opportunities are shared with the Ministry of Labor, they can be transmitted through our county youth centers and digital platforms to ensure that young people across Liberia are informed and able to apply," she explained. Another key aspect of the partnership, according to Minister Kruah, is collaboration with concession companies operating in Liberia.

She noted that the two ministries would work together to ensure that provisions requiring the gradual transition from foreign workers to qualified Liberians are effectively implemented.

"We want to ensure that Liberians are trained with the skills needed to eventually occupy positions currently held by expatriates. Through strategic planning and data sharing, we can prepare our young people to meet the labor demands of the future and significantly reduce unemployment," she stated.

Minister Kruah further underscored the importance of labor market research and data analysis.

"We need better information about the labor market—what skills employers need and what skills young people possess. Through this collaboration, we can generate evidence-based data that will guide informed policymaking and improve our youth employment interventions," she added.

Expressing appreciation to the Ministry of Labor for embracing the initiative, Minister Kruah said the partnership would immediately be tested through the implementation of the vacation employment program.

"We are excited about what lies ahead. Beginning with the vacation jobs initiative, we intend to use this collaboration as a pilot to demonstrate how government institutions can work together to create opportunities for at least 3,000 young Liberians during the vacation period," she concluded.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding reflects the Rescue Mission Government's commitment to promoting youth employment, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and creating sustainable opportunities that empower Liberia's young population to contribute meaningfully to national development