New Tool Tracks Africa's Youth Job Growth

Aug 18 , 2024


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A new tool to monitor and forecast youth job growth across Africa until 2030 was launched last week. The African Youth Employment Clock (AYEC) provides real-time data on job creation and employment trends, broken down by employment status, industry, and other key categories. Developed by the World Data Lab in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, with support from the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Innovation & Technology, the Ministry of Planning & Development, and the Ethiopian Statistical Service, AYEC leverages data from national statistics offices, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). By providing policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with valuable insights, AYEC aims to contribute to creating dignified and fulfilling jobs for 30 million young Africans by 2030. With Africa's youth population set to increase by nearly 100 million by then, addressing youth unemployment is a critical challenge. Wolfgang Fengler, CEO of the World Data Lab, underlined, that Africa's young population represents a unique demographic opportunity. “If we exclude Africa, the world is running out of young people,” he said.


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