Ebola, Jobs, and Economic Activity in Liberia
Ebola, Jobs, and Economic Activity in Liberia
2016
The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the neighboring West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone represents the most significant setback to the region’s development in over a decade. This study provides evidence of the extent to which economic activity declined and jobs disappeared in Liberia during the outbreak. The report finds a large decrease in economic activity and jobs in Liberia, with an especially pronounced decline in Monrovia. Outside of Monrovia, the restaurants and food and beverages sectors suffered the most among the surveyed sectors. In Monrovia, the construction and restaurant sectors shed the most employees, while the food and beverages sectors experienced the largest drop in new contracts. If the significant decline in economic activity during the Ebola outbreak persists, a focus on economic recovery may need to be added to efforts to rebuild and support the healthcare system for Liberia to regain its footing.