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Working Paper 297 - Labor Markets and Jobs in West Africa

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Abstract

The labor market in West Africa poses major challenges, both in its operation, in its characteristics, and in the indicators generally used to analyze it. Almost all of its actors are informal and the majority of jobs available are self-employment, with a fairly high level of underemployment. Informal workers are often poorly paid and generally receive wages below the poverty line. In addition, they have no social security cover or pension plan, and are often exposed to dangerous tasks. Policy Responses to unemployment and underemployment include support for very small businesses, for example through targeted training for business start-up and consolidation, incubators and accelerators. These policies should also promote the non-skilled labor intensive sectors, such as light industry and processing of agricultural, horticultural and fishery products, through the establishment of suitable industrial parks.JEL classification: E24; N37; J20; J79. Keywords: Labor market participation, Africa, demand and supply of jobs, youth employment, gender and employment

Suggested Citation

  • Mbaye Ahmadou Aly & Gueye Fatou, 2018. "Working Paper 297 - Labor Markets and Jobs in West Africa," Working Paper Series 2424, African Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:adb:adbwps:2424
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor market participation; africa; demand and supply of jobs; youth employment; gender and employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J79 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Other

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