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Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Bandiera, Oriana

    (London School of Economics)

  • Elsayed, Ahmed

    (American University in Cairo)

  • Smurra, Andrea

    (University College London)

  • Zipfel, Celine

    (Stockholm School of Economics)

Abstract

Every year millions of young adults join the labor market in Africa. This paper uses the Jobs of the World Database 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 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

  • Bandiera, Oriana & Elsayed, Ahmed & Smurra, Andrea & Zipfel, Celine, 2021. "Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa," IZA Discussion Papers 14982, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14982
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Bernard Hoekman & Marco Sanfilippo & Margherita Tambussi, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investment and Structural Transformation in Africa," RSCAS Working Papers 2023/02, European University Institute.
    3. Girsberger, Esther Mirjam & Meango, Romuald, 2022. "The Puzzle of Educated Unemployment in West Africa," IZA Discussion Papers 15721, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Amodio, Francesco & Medina, Pamela & Morlacco, Monica, 2022. "Labor Market Power, Self-Employment, and Development," IZA Discussion Papers 15477, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. 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).
    6. Thiago Scarelli, 2022. "Occupations and wealth in developing countries," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 31(2), pages 127-135.
    7. Blimpo, Moussa & Pugatch, Todd, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Youth Entrepreneurship Programs: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," IZA Discussion Papers 16489, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. 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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    young adults; employment; salaried jobs; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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