Youth and Labour Markets in Africa : A critical review of literature

This survey of literature focuses mainly on economic research done on Sub-Saharan Africa, although some references are reviewed for North Africa. It stresses that an assessment of youth employment problems in African countries requires a (still missing) clear diagnosis based on hard data and analytical research on determinants of labour market participation and unemployment. Research on the links between formal education and on-the-job training and their economic returns are especially crucial in understanding inadequacy between labour supply and demand.