Project: Estimating Return to Education and Assessing Skill Gaps in The Gambia

Building a smarter path from classrooms to careers in The Gambia

In The Gambia, too many young people complete school without the skills they need to thrive in the job market. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is working with the Government of The Gambia to change that by designing investments that make secondary education more relevant, equitable, and aligned with future labor demand.

As part of this effort, the Limestone Analytics team is helping MCC ground its education investments in robust economic evidence. We are supporting two key analyses: a labor market skills assessment to identify the most in-demand jobs and skills over the next decade, and a statistical model to quantify the financial returns to education across different schooling levels. This work is being carried out in close collaboration with MCC’s Gambia country team and local data experts.

Limestone has designed the scope for the skills assessment so it delivers actionable insights, especially for boosting opportunities for women and marginalized youth. And we have reviewed MCC’s “Mincer regression” analysis using national labor force survey data to ensure it accurately reflects how education affects earnings in The Gambia. The results will feed directly into MCC’s cost-benefit models, helping ensure that every dollar spent delivers real value for learners and the economy.

By validating the link between education and earning potential, our work helps MCC design smarter, more impactful programs – ones that prepare Gambian youth not just to graduate, but to succeed.