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Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Oriana Bandiera
  • Ahmed Elsayed
  • Andrea Smurra
  • Céline Zipfel

Abstract

Every year, millions of young adults join the labor market in Africa. This paper harmonizes surveys and censuses from 68 low- and middle-income countries to compare their job prospects to those of their counterparts in other low-income regions. We show that employment rates are similar at similar levels of development but that young adults in Africa are less likely to have a salaried job, especially when the size of their cohort is large. Building on existing evidence on the impacts of interventions targeting both the demand and supply sides of the labor market, we discuss policy priorities for boosting the growth of salaried job creation in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Oriana Bandiera & Ahmed Elsayed & Andrea Smurra & Céline Zipfel, 2022. "Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 36(1), pages 81-100, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:36:y:2022:i:1:p:81-100
    DOI: 10.1257/jep.36.1.81
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Céline Zipfel, 2022. "The demand side of Africa's demographic transition: desired fertility, wealth, and jobs," STICERD - Economic Organisation and Public Policy Discussion Papers Series 71, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    3. Baird, Sarah & McIntosh, Craig & Özler, Berk & Pape, Utz, 2024. "Asset transfers and anti-poverty programs: Experimental evidence from Tanzania," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Maddalena Honorati & Indhira Santos & Indhira Santos, 2024. "Investing in Skills to Accelerate Job Transitions," World Bank Publications - Reports 42103, The World Bank Group.
    5. Girsberger, Esther Mirjam & Meango, Romuald, 2022. "The Puzzle of Educated Unemployment in West Africa," IZA Discussion Papers 15721, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Sam Jones & Kunal Sen, 2022. "Labour market effects of digital matching platforms: Experimental evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-69, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Francesco Amodio & Pamela Medina & Monica Morlacco, 2025. "Labor Market Power, Self-Employment, and Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 115(9), pages 3014-3057, September.
    8. Witte, Marc J. & Roth, Johanna & Hardy, Morgan & Meyer, Christian Johannes, 2025. "Reaching Marginalized Job Seekers Through Public Employment Services: Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia," IZA Discussion Papers 18005, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Blimpo, Moussa & Pugatch, Todd, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Youth Entrepreneurship Programs: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," IZA Discussion Papers 16489, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Swati Dhingra & Fjolla Kondirolli, 2023. "Jobless and Stuck: Youth Unemployment and COVID-19 in India," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(3), pages 580-610, September.
    11. Hoekman, Bernard & Sanfilippo, Marco & Tambussi, Margherita, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investment and Structural Transformation in Africa," CEPR Discussion Papers 17838, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    12. Afridi, Farzana & Gupta, Tanu & Heath, Rachel & Mahajan, Kanika, 2025. "Smart Skilling: Experimental Evidence on Vocational Training Design," IZA Discussion Papers 18272, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Thiago Scarelli, 2022. "Occupations and wealth in developing countries," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 31(2), pages 127-135.
    14. Dhingra, Swati & Kondirolli, Fjolla, 2023. "Jobless and stuck: youth unemployment and COVID-19 in India," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119619, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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