Facts and figures Niall OHiggins (YEP, ILO) Sarah Akwei-Marfo - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rising to the youth employment challenge(s) in Africa: Facts and figures Niall O’Higgins (YEP, ILO) Sarah Akwei-Marfo (GIDJY, ILO) Future of Work for African Youth, February 7 th 2019, Geneva

Today 1. Nature and dimensions of the youth employment challenge in Africa: Some facts and figures 2. What do these actually mean? Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

1) What are the main features of youth labour markets in Africa today? Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

The youth labour force in Africa is rapidly growing 400 350 300 250 Millions 200 168.5 150 121.4 103.6 82.1 100 61.5 50 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019 Africa Americas Arab States Asia and the Pacific Europe and Central Asia Source: ILO Labour Force Estimates and Projections, July 2015.

Youth unemployment rates are high, especially in Northern Africa 35 30.7 30.7 30.1 29.6 29.5 29.3 29.2 29.2 27.7 30 27.2 26.9 26.1 25.7 25.3 25.1 25 20 12.7 15 12.6 12.6 12.5 12.5 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.1 12.1 12.1 11.6 12.9 10 12.7 12.6 12.3 12.3 12.2 11.7 11.5 11.5 11.6 11.6 11.3 11.1 10.9 10.8 5 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Northern Africa Sub-Saharan Africa World Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

But rather more young people are n either in e mployment, e ducation or t raining (NEET) 45 40 35 Percentage (%) 30 25 41.8 20 36.0 15 10 19.0 16.7 16.0 14.9 11.3 11.2 5 9.6 8.0 0 Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Northern Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Developing Emerging Developed

Youth NEET rates tend to be particularly high in Africa, compared to other regions Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Although they vary much across countries Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

But young women (almost) always have higher NEET rates than young men Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

The vast majority of African young people who do find jobs still remain in extreme or moderate poverty 80 70 Percentage (%) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Youth Adult Youth Adult Youth Adult Northern Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Emerging and developing economies Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019 Extreme poverty Moderate poverty

And, 95% of young workers in Africa who have jobs work in the informal economy 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 Africa Americas Arab States Asia and the Europe and World Pacific Central Asia Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019 Youth Adult

Vulnerable employment is, however, falling (slowly) 90 80 70 Percentage (%) 60 50 82.2 40 76.5 65.9 65.6 30 20 31.2 31.7 21.7 10 17.0 2.9 2.7 0.8 1.8 0 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 Employee Employer Vulnerable Employee Employer Vulnerable employment employment Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019 Male Female

But, the increase in wage employment is mainly accounted for by increases in informal and/or temporary jobs 20 Percentage point change in age-specific employment 15 10 5 0 -5 Egypt South Africa Zambia Tanzania -10 -15 -20 Permanent employee Temporary employee Employee without contract OAW Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019 Contributing family worker

Agriculture remains the main employer of youth; non- agricultural jobs for youth are growing (too) slowly Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

2) What does this actually mean? Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Clearly there are some major challenges  The youth labour force in Africa has more than doubled from 61.5 million in 1990 to 124.5 million in 2018. Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Clearly there are some major challenges 15.7 .7 million youth are unemployed 62.1 million youth are working but poor 95% of young are in informal employment workers Over 60% of NEETs are young women

The Youth labour force doubled in size in Africa between 1990 and 2018 and, between now and 2030 will increase by a further 35% - or 44 million young people Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Clearly there are some major challenges 15.7 .7 million youth are unemployed 62.1 million youth are working but poor 95% of young are in informal employment workers Over 60% of NEETs are young women

 ILO research estimates that in order to create and maintain full and productive employment the annual rate of productive job creation will have to increase from its current rate of 4.8 % per year (2010-2017) to 7.1 % per year . – Requires inter alia sustained high rates of balanced economic growth Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

The pace of job creation in the region must accelerate…..  There is an urgency for macro-economic demand side stimulation so as to create sufficient job opportunities outside of low productivity agriculture.  Facilitating structural transformation and economic diversification is key; – Sectoral investment strategies to promote youth employment are thus clearly called for. Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Clearly there are some major challenges 15.7 .7 million youth are unemployed 62.1 million youth are working but poor 95% of young are in informal employment workers Over 60% of NEETs are young women

Young women: a special emphasis  There is a need to focus particularly on the situation of young women: – Higher NEET rates – Higher rates of vulnerable employment Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Policy messages: Promoting decent work for youth Developing macro-economic Developing core working policies to stimulate jobs skills to enable life-long creation for youth learning. Developing Creating context-specific Leveraging the potential partnerships : active labour market policies for digital jobs: Such as the Global for young people . For example, by fostering Initiative on Decent No single intervention is digital start-ups Jobs for Youth superior to all. Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

To know more: Major ILO publications on youth Future of work for African youth, Geneva, February 7th, 2019

Youth Employment Programme (YEP) Unit Employment Policy Department International Labour Office Route des Morillons 4 CH-1211 Genève 22 Switzerland ilo.org/youth youth@ilo.org facebook.com/youth.ilo @ILOYouth