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Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Golub
  • Faraz Hayat

Abstract

This paper documents and analyses the predominance of informal employment in Africa and shows that lack of demand for labour rather than worker characteristics is the main reason for pervasive underemployment. Integration into the global economy and exports of labour-intensive products are vital to boosting the demand for labour in Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Golub & Faraz Hayat, 2014. "Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment in Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-014, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2014-014
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2014-014.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dani Rodrik, 2018. "An African Growth Miracle?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 27(1), pages 10-27.
    3. World Bank, 2015. "Federal Republic of Nigeria Slum Upgrading, Involuntary Resettlement, Land and Housing," World Bank Publications - Reports 25063, The World Bank Group.
    4. Rochelle Beukes & Tina Fransman & Simba Murozvi & Derek Yu, 2017. "Underemployment in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 33-55, January.
    5. Adegboye , Abidemi C. & Arodoye , Nosakhare L., 2023. "Structural Changes and Employment Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does Demographic Structure Matter?," Journal of Economic Development, The Economic Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, vol. 48(2), pages 143-166, June.
    6. Olivier CADOT & Jaime de MELO & Patrick PLANE & Laurent WAGNER & Martha TESFAYE WOLDEMICHAEL, 2017. "L’Afrique subsaharienne peut-elle se développer sans usines ?," Working Paper 084c8bee-b301-4412-8ca4-c, Agence française de développement.
    7. F. Clementi & A. L. Dabalen & V. Molini & F. Schettino, 2020. "We forgot the middle class! Inequality underestimation in a changing Sub-Saharan Africa," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 18(1), pages 45-70, March.

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