The labor force in Liberia is quiteyoung. Youth aged 15 to 34 constitute over a third ofthepopulation in Liberia and are somewhat concentrated inurban areas, according to the 2008census. These youthrepresent both a demographic dividend and a concern. Theeducational attainment of Liberian youth is steadilyimproving but remains low on average.Youth recognize thattheir lack of skills and experience are impediments toemployment.The objective of this report is to assess youthskills development in Liberia.Given the composition ofLiberia’s economy and the concentration of the labor forceoutside formal employment, this report has a particularfocus on skill development in vocational trades and theinformal sector. This report comprises three analyses.Section Two constructs a profile of Liberian youth fromexisting administrative data are studied to enable a moredetailed understanding of the current skill levels amongworking youth. Section Three first assesses skillsdevelopment providers based on new survey data summarizesthe results of original analysis carried out on datacollected on a sample of 139 skill providers’ trainingofferings, capacity, target beneficiaries, and othercriteria. Next section three goes on to present youngtrainees’ perceptions of skills development opportunitiesand limits, based on 354 interviews with recent trainees.This report contributes to the Government of Liberia’sAgenda for Transformation (AfT) and the World Bank’s CountryPartnership Strategy (CPS) 2013-2017. Both recognize thatinadequate skills and vulnerable employment are keyconstrictions on rapid, inclusive and sustainablegrowth.This report provides practical recommendations thatalign with pillars of the National Technical and VocationalEducation and Training (TVET) Policy 2015-2020. This reportmakes recommendations specific to three pillars: promotingproductivity in the agricultural sector through TVET,promoting productivity in the informal sector through TVET,and financing TVET.
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