Accra:Cameroon recorded 197,356 new jobs in 2025, according to the National Observatory of Employment and Vocational Training (ONEFOP). This figure highlights the government's ongoing focus on job creation as part of its economic agenda. According to Cameroon News Agency, the 2025 job creation figure represents a 3.2% increase from the 191,205 jobs recorded in 2024, yet it falls short of the government's annual target of 300,000 jobs. In 2023, the number of new jobs was 209,823. The tertiary sector contributed the largest share of new jobs in 2025, accounting for 87,124 jobs or 44.1%. The secondary sector followed with 78,783 jobs, and the primary sector accounted for 31,449 jobs. Job creation remains a central theme in government policy. President Paul Biya, in his 2025 New Year message, highlighted more than 2,500 direct jobs from a new tile-production plant in Bipaga and announced plans to recruit 9,944 health workers over five years. Additionally, during his November 2025 inauguration, he unveiled a yo uth employment promotion plan with incentives for companies recruiting young people and labor-intensive public investment projects. The government's employment statistics include jobs generated through public investment projects, private enterprises, cooperatives, and other programs. In 2021, 358,247 jobs were reported, with 230,065 attributed to Public Investment Budget projects, representing 64.2% of the total. Private enterprises contributed 81,163 jobs, or 22.6%, with the remainder coming from government administration, cooperatives, NGOs, local authorities, and integration programs. These figures underscore the government's emphasis on job creation while also highlighting the gap between its announced goals and actual job numbers. The definition of a 'job' often includes temporary roles that may disappear when projects conclude. Official data show fluctuations in job creation, with 209,823 jobs in 2023, a drop to 191,205 in 2024, and a modest recovery to 197,356 in 2025. The 2026 statistics will be ava ilable in 2027 or during President Biya's end-of-year speech.
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