Youth and Employment Policies in Africa: Challenges, Aspirations, and Opportunities

This policy review includes an analysis of existing policies aimed to generate youth employment and youth entrepreneurship in Africa, a brief poll among youth in several countries, as well as interviews designed to give initial indications of themes and issues related to endemic unemployment in this segment of the population. It focuses on the identification of major challenges in the future of work for youth, detection of skills gaps, and exploration of the prospects and opportunities in sectors that remain under-explored. By highlighting the most relevant dynamics and factors of action, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the African Youth Commission (AYC) hope to provide an initial analysis of existing policies (or lack thereof) from the studied countries, illuminating both the challenges and the need for further policy development. By providing a space for expressing various youth experiences across the continent, this review indicates that there are missed opportunities which could be rectified or re-imagined.