Supporting Jobs for Young Women and Men in Africa: A Framework for Country Level Analysis
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Date
2022-08
Authors
Velde, Dirk Willem te
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Abstract
A third of Africa's population consists of young people, and a quarter of jobs in Africa
go to young people, twice as much as the world average. Finding jobs for the young is
very much linked to a general employment challenge. Africa will see some 18 million
additional young people entering the working age population each year by 2030,
with around two-thirds or 13 million entering the labour market. This compares to
nine million additional jobs each year that were created between 2003 and 2016,
meaning a step up of 50% in the job creation rate is required to address demographic
challenges. The jobs crisis is not a straightforward supply-side or education and skills
challenge, as in most African countries, the share of youth unemployment goes up
with level of education and the returns to tertiary education has decreased in several
African countries. This suggests that a higher level of education is not a guarantee for
employment, and we need to consider which complementary actions can develop
sectors which can pull in employment opportunities, for young men and women.