Liberia’s Minister of Labour, Cllr. Cooper Kruah has affirmed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s claims on job creation, stating that employment data available to his ministry suggest the actual number of jobs created may exceed what the President disclosed in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). Addressing the nation, President Boakai stated that his administration had created approximately 70,000 jobs nationwide within its first two years in office, citing the figure as evidence of early progress toward economic recovery.
The announcement quickly sparked public debate, with critics questioning the credibility of the data and demanding greater transparency on how the jobs were counted. Supporters of the administration, however, defended the figures, pointing to visible employment gains in public works projects, private sector expansion, and donor-supported initiatives across the country. Responding to the controversy during a weekend media engagement, Minister Kruah explained that the President’s figure was conservative and based on preliminary consolidated reports available at the time of the address.
According to the Labour Minister, comprehensive employment records compiled from multiple sectors—including construction, agriculture, services, and concession-related operations—indicate that total job creation may surpass the 70,000 mark. Kruah noted that the ministry’s data captures a significant number of medium- and long-term employment opportunities, rather than short-term or casual labor arrangements that are often excluded from headline statistics.
He acknowledged that differing public perceptions stem largely from varying definitions of what constitutes a “job,” adding that the government is working to standardize labour data collection and reporting across institutions. The minister emphasized that the Boakai administration prefers caution over exaggeration, explaining that the President opted to announce only figures that could be readily verified at the time of his address.
Kruah further disclosed that ongoing data reconciliation among government agencies is expected to provide a clearer and more comprehensive picture of national employment trends in the coming months. As the government prepares to publish updated labour reports, the discussion has underscored a broader public demand for accurate data, transparency, and accountability in measuring Liberia’s national progress.
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