African economic outlook 2012: special theme promoting youth employement

Abstract

This 11th edition of the African Economic Outlook (AEO) is marked by a “twin-track” performance: while the North African region gradually recovers from the political events that affected several countries, sub-Saharan Africa is growing strongly. The continent is well placed to press ahead with structural reforms and lay the groundwork for strong and sustainable growth in the medium term. This edition's of AEO focuses on youth employment. Creating productive employment for Africa’s rapidly growing young population is an immense challenge, but also the key to future prosperity. The last decade of high growth created many jobs, but not enough. Africa has the world’s youngest population and it is growing rapidly. Hundreds of millions of young Africans will be leaving school over the next decades, at every level, and looking for jobs. The challenges and obstacles unemployed youth and the working poor face are diverse and vary between countries. Youth employment is largely a problem of quality in low-income countries and one of quantity in middle-income countries. Youth in vulnerable employment and working poverty are the large majority in poor countries. In upper middle-income countries more youth are unemployed, discouraged or inactive. In all country groups more young people are discouraged than unemployed, suggesting that the youth employment challenge has been underestimated.