African population newsletter=Information sur la population en Afrique : SAPs and employment in Africa = PAS et emploi en Afrique

Abstract

The African Population Newsletter No. 61 (July-December 1991), published by the Population Division of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), examines the socio-economic impacts of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) on employment and labor dynamics across Africa. The newsletter highlights how SAPs have led to widespread retrenchment in the public sector, exacerbating unemployment, particularly among educated youth and women, while also creating shortages of skilled labor. Case studies from countries like Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe illustrate the adverse effects of SAPs, including rising female unemployment and the brain drain of professionals. Additionally, the newsletter discusses population-related challenges, such as high growth rates and the need for integrated development planning, and provides updates on regional demographic data, including census results from Uganda and Kenya. It also previews forthcoming publications and conferences aimed at addressing these issues, emphasizing the importance of incorporating population variables into economic policies for sustainable development.