Deputy Minister for Youth Development Sam E. Hare, Jr. has identified lack of marketable skills as the prime factor for youth unemployment in Liberia.

“Despite many young people acquiring university education today, there exists a gap between the supply and demand for labor in the country’s human resource. The gap is mainly youth unemployment,” Hare said at an orientation meeting for youth participating in the 2010 National Cadet program of the Ministry of Youth.

“This gap exists because school education alone does not prepare people, including the youth, for the job market. The youth must acquire hands on work experience to complement formal education, if they are to overcome the problem of unemployment.”

The Cadet Program is part of the ministry’s efforts to address youth unemployment, designed to mentor young Liberians for community and national service and to serve as a catalyst for gaining on-the-job experience needed to address post-graduation career challenges and opportunities.

 The program focuses on Agriculture, Building Construction & Related Fields, Public Administration, Trade & Commerce, and Youth Development.

“As participants of the National Cadet Program you will enjoy the privilege of being mentored by some of Liberia’s best professional minds, because the goal of the program is to groom you to be above average so that you will go the extra mile to make greater achievements,” Hare told the youth.

He challenged the youth: “to continue enjoying the privilege you must measure up to the standard of the program, which includes maintaining the required grade point of 3 and participating in voluntary community service, etc.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be disciplined youth between ages 18 and 35,  a current university/college student who has completed a minimum of 45 credit hours, with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above, and must make a complete pass in a given aptitude test.