Monrovia, Liberia — The Liberian government, in partnership with Rise Talent, officially launched “Liberia Works,” a groundbreaking national platform designed to connect employers, universities, and young job seekers to address unemployment and underemployment in the country.
Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah emphasized the initiative’s importance, saying, “We can all agree on one truth: employers across all sectors struggle to meet the demands of a modern economy, while our young people often lack preparedness for professional settings.” He highlighted the lack of real-time labor market data as a significant hurdle for policy decisions.
Liberia Works is envisioned as more than just a website; it is a comprehensive workforce-coordination system. It will provide employers with access to prepared talent, offer the government crucial labor intelligence and compliance data, and present young Liberians with transparent opportunities for work, learning, and growth. This marks the first time in Liberia’s history that all these actors will be integrated into one system.
A new administrative regulation will also be introduced to encourage the protection of junior associates and interns, fostering the next generation of Liberian professionals. Liberia Works will serve as the official national platform for managing this process, ensuring accountability and results.
The ambitious goal is to provide real employment opportunities for young people through the National Junior Associates Program over the next four years. It will also establish a national workforce information system, offering vital data on skills and employment trends.
Mr. Sei Philip Pleiwon, Director of Rise Talent, echoed the sentiment: “We hear employers say, ‘We can’t find good workers,’ and workers say, ‘We can’t find good jobs.’ This signifies a real disconnect in the labor market.” Pleiwon stressed that Liberia Works is about transforming society and expressed gratitude for the immediate interest from 15 employers on launch day. He noted that Pleiwon previously launched a similar program in Kenya and is determined to bring this initiative to Liberia despite initial skepticism. He added, “None of this will work if we don’t have quality Liberians.”
Pleiwon concluded by inviting continued partnership and support to ensure the success of Liberia Works and its National Junior Associate Program, which has a proven track record with major Kenyan employers.
