Overview: Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

S ub-Saharan Africa has just experienced one of the best decades of growth since the 1960s. Between 2000 and 2012, gross domestic product (GDP) grew more than 4.5 percent a year on average, compared to around 2 percent in the prior 20 years (World Bank various years). In 2012, the region's GDP growth was estimated at 4.7 percent-5.8 percent if South Africa is excluded (World Bank 2013). About one-quarter of countries in the region grew at 7 percent or better, and several African countries are among the fastest growing in the world. Medium-term growth prospects remain strong and should be supported by a rebounding global economy. At the same time, many Africans are dissatisfied with this economic progress. According to the latest Afrobarometer data, 65 percent of the surveyed population consider economic conditions in their country to be the same or worse than the year prior, 53 percent rate their national economic condition as "very bad" or "fairly bad," and 48 percent say the same about their personal economic condition (Afrobarometer 2011-12. www.afrobarometer.org).

Agroecology, Information and Communications Technology, and Smallholders’ Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…The World Bank estimates that Africa's working-age population will grow by 70% (450 million) between 2015 and 2035. Increasing young people's opportunities for productive work in rural areas is the most important catalyst for SSA to reap its demographic dividend (Filmer and Fox, 2014). As mentioned above, highly diversified agroecological production is able to meet rising food demand in SSA if it is able to benefit from significant investments and an enabling environment in which to fulfill its full potential.…”

“…Employment on the farm. Farming will continue to account for the majority of employment of the labor force in most countries in the SSA region for the next decade or more (Filmer and Fox, 2014;Yeboah and Jayne, 2016). Yet, the drudgery and poor remuneration associated with low-productivity family farming turn the youth away from agriculture (FAO, 2018d).…”

Rural transformation, cereals and youth in Africa: What role for international agricultural research?

“…Agriculture is widely seen as having a central role in the provision of productive employment for Africa’s youth (AGRA, 2015; Filmer et al, 2014; Losch, 2016). The argument is that agriculture is the only sector that has the potential to provide the number of jobs required in the near term; moreover, it is argued that youth engagement in the sector will help counteract an aging farming population and make a positive contribution to food security and sustainability.…”

Caractéristiques et déterminants du chômage des jeunes au Cameroun: le rôle prépondérant du diplôme et du sexe

“…Le continent africain a cette particularité d'avoir une proportion des jeunes de moins de 25 ans qui est relativement élevée au monde. Avec environ 17% de la population jeune mondiale, il est classé deuxième après le continent asiatique (UNFPA, ; Filmer et al ., ). A l'image de l'Afrique, le Cameroun a une population essentiellement jeune et dominée par les femmes (RGPH3, ): les moins de 35 ans représentent environ 70% de la population 1 et la gent féminine un peu plus de 50%.…”