Across the world today, there are an estimated 1.2 billion young people aged 15-24 – accounting for one out of every six people globally. Nowhere is this more relevant than in Africa, the world’s youngest and fastest-growing continent. For Africa’s labour markets, this ‘youth bulge’ simultaneously presents an opportunity and a challenge: a growing share of the working-age population could lead to a boost in productivity and growth for African economies; but this is contingent on labour markets accommodating these growing numbers of youth putting intense pressure on systems that are often already struggling to keep up. Action must be taken to ensure that there are sustainable and transformative approaches which allow this growing population of young African women and men to have access to decent and dignified employment opportunities.
