Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship

Gainfully employed and financially independent African youth will drive the economic futures of their families, communities, and nations. However, across the continent African youth face barriers to finding employment and entrepreneurship. In 2013, youth in Africa accounted for 37 percent of the working-age population but made up more than 60 percent of all unemployed African people. With the number of young Africans projected to grow— making up 42 percent of the world’s youth by 2030 and doubling the current numbers of African youth by 2055— policymakers must invest in youth economic opportunities for a more prosperous future for all

Young people in Africa experience specific vulnerabilities within the labor market due to their age. When first seeking employment, African youth may find it difficult to enter the workforce due to a lack of experience, professional networks, or market-desired skills that can be compounded by limited job opportunities in their communities. Even if youth obtain employment, the experience and skills they lack can make them more vulnerable to labor market dynamics such as job insecurity, minimal benefits, and limited skill-building opportunities. Inability to access credit can further prevent youth from economic independence, blocking them from entrepreneurial pursuits. Over the long-term, unemployment or poor quality of employment prevents African youth from fully providing for themselves and their families.

The Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship pillar of the SoAYR uses data to clarify economic barriers by measuring whether youth are employed, identifying employment opportunities for youth, evaluating the quality of employment, and determining whether unemployed youth are engaged in education or training that could later lead to employment. Regionally, many indicators used to evaluate youth employment and entrepreneurship in Africa showed improvements from 2013 to 2017, suggesting economic opportunities are improving for young people.

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