Africa's Got Work to Do: Employment Prospects in the New Century

Author/Editor:

Louise Fox ; Cleary Haines ; Jorge Huerta Munoz ; Alun H. Thomas

Publication Date:

October 1, 2013

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

Estimates of the current and future structure of employment in sub-Saharan Africa (2005–20) are obtained based on household survey estimates for 28 countries and an elasticity-type model that relates employment to economic growth and demographic outcomes. Agriculture still employs the majority of the labor force although workers are shifting slowly out of the sector. Sub-Saharan Africa’s projected rapid labor force growth, combined with a low baseline level of private sector wage employment, means that even if sub-Saharan Africa realizes another decade of strong growth, the share of labor force employed in private firms is not expected to rise substantially. Governments need to undertake measures to attract private enterprises that provide wage employment, but they also need to focus on improving productivity in the traditional and informal sectors as these will continue to absorb the majority of the labor force.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2013/201

Subject:

Agricultural sector Economic sectors Employment Income Labor Labor force National accounts Personal income Wages

English

Publication Date:

October 1, 2013

ISBN/ISSN:

9781484389195/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2013201

Pages:

39

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