Report on employment in Africa (Re-Africa): tackling the youth employment challenge

Shawa, Ken Chamuva

Report on employment in Africa (Re-Africa): tackling the youth employment challenge

This report addresses the key issues impacting labour market trends in Africa. It is important that African labour markets benefit from the positive economic outlook for the continent. However, although economic growth was expected to reach 3.8 per cent by the end of 2020, the effects of the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 are expected to hamper this growth substantially. The growth is underpinned on a heavy reliance on low value-added sectors characterized by poor pay and a dependence on domestic demand. Over the years, per capita incomes in Africa have remained low and growth rates volat ... Show more

This report addresses the key issues impacting labour market trends in Africa. It is important that African labour markets benefit from the positive economic outlook for the continent. However, although economic growth was expected to reach 3.8 per cent by the end of 2020, the effects of the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 are expected to hamper this growth substantially. The growth is underpinned on a heavy reliance on low value-added sectors characterized by poor pay and a dependence on domestic demand. Over the years, per capita incomes in Africa have remained low and growth rates volatile; in this respect, the continent lags behind all other regions, apart from the Arab States. According to the 2020 forecast for Africa, per capita growth will have either remained constant (Central Africa) or have declined in all other subregions between 2000 and 2020, with the exception of eastern Africa, which will have seen growth of up to 2.4 per cent. Again the final figures will depend on the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, a volatile per capita income rate has been accompanied by a slow growth in productivity, which has an apparent correlation with subdued real wages.

This report looks to the future and suggests some policy interventions to improve Africa's labour markets, particularly for youth. Key interventions proposed include stabilization of the macroeconomy; mechanizing the agricultural sector; advancing education and training aimed at improving demand and supply driven skills; promoting active labour market programmes; and adopting the advantages of a digital economy. In the wake of the impact of COVID-19 on labour markets, these policies will work to support the ILO's policy framework which is based on labour standards and has four key pillars: stimulating the economy and employment; supporting enterprises, jobs and incomes; protecting workers in the workplace; and relying on social dialogue for solutions.

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