Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh has said Sierra Leone has already reached the Government’s target of creating 500,000 jobs, arguing that the commitment was never intended to mean that Government alone would employ half a million people.

Sengeh made the claim during an interview on Radio Democracy on September 16, 2026, where he explained that the target included employment created through the private sector, civil society, entrepreneurs and other economic activities.

Responding to a question about the status of President Julius Maada Bio’s 500,000-jobs pledge, Sengeh said, “If you ask me, I will say we have already reached 500,000 jobs. The jobs are everywhere.”

He said a misconception had developed around the pledge, with some people interpreting it as a commitment for Government to directly provide 500,000 jobs.

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According to Sengeh, President Bio’s commitment was designed as a broader national employment target involving Government and other sectors of the economy.

“When President Bio said he will provide 500,000 jobs and together we will deliver, what he meant is that [we will work] with the private sector and with civil society,” Sengeh said.

He pointed to people engaged in farming, community activities, trading, commercial motorbike riding and mining as examples of employment and economic activity that form part of the broader target.

Sengeh also said the Government has enabled agricultural and industrial projects that have created employment opportunities, arguing that the 500,000 figure was deliberately established as a benchmark to encourage different sectors to contribute towards employment creation.

He said the target was intended to put a measurable employment goal in the minds of Government, businesses, civil society organisations and independent entrepreneurs.

“Yes, by my own estimation, from permanent jobs, formal jobs, seasonal jobs, we have met the 500,000 jobs,” he said.

However, Sengeh did not provide a specific breakdown showing how many of the estimated 500,000 jobs came from Government, the private sector, civil society or other sources during the interview.

The Chief Minister argued that Sierra Leone needs to change its perception of Government’s role in employment creation.

“We need to change our perspective. Government should not be the biggest employer in the country,” he said.

According to Sengeh, a stronger private sector should increasingly drive employment as Sierra Leone works towards becoming a middle-income country.

He said people should not have to depend primarily on Government salaries for their livelihoods, particularly as the country works towards its development ambitions for 2039.

“If we want to be an inclusive middle-income country by 2039, people must not wait for government salary to make them earn their living,” he said.

Sengeh cited the opening of new industries as evidence of Government efforts to enable private-sector job creation.

“For example, 22 industries have been opened up in the past couple of years, and there is more on the way,” he said.

He described these investments as examples of jobs created by the private sector with Government support or enabling interventions.

Sengeh’s comments come amid continued public discussion over President Bio’s 500,000 jobs commitment and questions about how progress towards the target should be measured.