Youth and Employment in Africa : paper prepared for the youth employment summit

Abstract

Africa’s population is very young. Young people make up more than 50% of the population of the countries of Africa, the region that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) serves. These young people are a potential resource for growth and social development if gainfully and productively engaged. But they could also be a source of devastating social tension and conict if not. In many countries, the degree to which youth can\ contribute to the possibilities of their countries in particular and the continent in general is constrained by circumscribed life chances, job opportunities being one of the major circumscriptions.