Risks of mass unemployment and worsening of working conditions

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), demographic growth, climate change, low manufacturing levels and even premature deindustrialisation are paving the way for a massive increase in the number of informal, vulnerable and extremely poor workers, especially among young people. This is fertile ground for food crises, social unrest, violent conflicts and migration, as seen in the Sahel and other regions around the world. The challenge is to find decent jobs for the 730 million people who will join the potential labour force between 2020 and 2050, in addition to the 600 million currently making up the working age population.