Idrissa Samb on youth employment: "The future is not the state."

"The future does not lie with the state." This is a statement from the Minister of Employment, Vocational and Technical Training. Idrissa Samb is calling on young Senegalese people to no longer make salaried employment their only prospect.

Invited to the "Grand Jury" program on Sunday, October 4, 2026, Mr. Samb encouraged young people to focus more on their skills to create their own businesses and, in turn, generate employment. "Young people shouldn't always wait to be employed by the government or, at the very least, to have a salaried job. For me, the future lies in self-employment," he said, while acknowledging that young people face "burdens" and "family obligations."

40 young people announced in France

At the same time, the government intends to develop forms of structured professional mobility. The minister announced the upcoming departure of a group of 40 young people trained in Senegal to France. "Next week, I will be accompanying a group of 40 young people who were trained here in Senegal and who will be going to Europe to work on permanent contracts with a salary of over €2,000," he announced. These young people will be working in the construction sector.

According to the minister, their program also includes provisions for accommodation and insurance. He believes this professional mobility offers an alternative to irregular migration. "So, young people should go and train and wait. Initiatives are in place, and we will support them," he stated.

Dual education presented as "the future"

For the minister, dual training must occupy a central place in integration policy. The system relies in particular on collaboration with companies, which express their skills needs and take on trainees.

These individuals notably receive a monthly allowance of 40,000 CFA francs and sign an employment contract in front of the labor inspectorate, according to explanations provided during the interview.

The agribusiness, industrial, and construction sectors are among those the minister presents as having the greatest potential for employment. "Dual vocational training is the very future of our youth," he declared, advocating for strengthening the PF2E's capacity to meet the significant demand.

7,251 young people enrolled in the PF2E

Furthermore, the minister defended the results of the School-Business Training Program (PF2E), which, since its creation, has enrolled 7,251 young people in 11 regions. Among them, 1,778 are certified, for a reported placement rate of 61%.

The program aims to extend its reach to all 14 regions of Senegal. However, demand remains far greater than current capacity. "Each year, the number of learners to enroll is 1,500, while the demand is 20,000 annually," he noted.

The minister believes that the system therefore needs to be strengthened. According to him, its budget is around 2 billion CFA francs and is funded by the Employer's Fixed Contribution (CFCE), which has a rate of 3%.