Youth in Africa's Labor Market

by Marito H. Garcia (Editor), Jean Fares (Editor)

Overview

The authors examine the challenges facing Africa's youth in their transition from school to working life, and propose a policy framework for meeting these challenges. Topics covered include the effect of education on employment and income, broadening employment opportunities, and enhancing youth capabilities. The book includes a CD-ROM of case studies of four countries and household data on 13 countries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780821368848
Publisher:	World Bank Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2008
Series:	Directions in Development - Human Development
Pages:	326
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword     xvii
Contributors     xix
Acknowledgments     xxi
Abbreviations     xxiii
Executive Summary     xxv
Youth in Africa's Labor Market: A Synthesis   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     1
Why Is It Important for Africa to Invest in Its Youth?   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     3
Why Focus on the Transition to Work?     4
Africa's Demographic Transition Creates a Window of Opportunity     4
The Level of Educational Attainment Has Risen- and Returns to Education Are Rising in Some Countries     7
Despite Progress, Significant Challenges Remain     8
The Policy Response     11
Notes     14
Transitions to Working Life for Africa's Youth   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     15
Poverty and Large Income Shocks Push Children into the Work Force     18
The School-to-Work Transition of Africa's Youth Is Long and Difficult     21
How Do Africa's Young People Spend Their Time?   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     27
Not Many Youth Are in the Labor Market and Employed     27
A Large Proportion of Youth Are "Inactive"     29
Many Young People Are in School     29
Time Use Varies by Income Group     32
Notes     37
The Effect of Education on Income and Employment   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     39
How Does Education Affect Income?     39
How Does Education Affect Employment?     42
What Effect Does Education Have on Development?     44
What Keeps Educational Attainment Low?     44
Notes     47
Working in Bad Jobs or Not Working at All   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     49
What Makes the Transition to Work Difficult for Youth?     49
Youth Are Vulnerable in the Labor Market     53
Youth Unemployment Is High     60
Notes     65
The Three Pillars of Policy: Lessons from International Experience   Marito Garcia   Jean Fares     67
Responses from African Countries     73
Future Research to Fill Knowledge Gaps     75
Methodology: Building an Indicator of the School-to-Work Transition     75
Inventory of Selected Policies and Programs on Youth Employment and Skills Development in Burkina Faso     78
Government Involvement in Youth Employment Issues     78
Description of Policies and Programs     79
How Well Have Interventions Performed?     82
Inventory of Selected Policies and Programs on Youth Employment and Skills Development in Ethiopia     84
Government Involvement in Youth Employment Issues     84
Description of Policies and Programs     85
How Well Have Interventions Performed?     89
Inventory of Selected Policies and Programs on Youth Employment and Skills Development in Tanzania     91
Government Involvement in Youth Employment Issues     91
Description of Policies and Programs     92
How Well Have Interventions Performed?     95
Inventory of Selected Policies and Programs on Youth Employment and Skills Development in Uganda     97
Bibliography for Part 1     101
Youth in Africa's Labor Market: Country Case Studies   Lisa Dragoset   Jean Fares   Lorenzo Guarcello   Florence Kondylis   Scott Lyon   Marco Manacorda   Daniel Parent   Furio Rosati   Cristina Valdivia   Lars Vilhuber     107
School-to-Work Transitions: Regional Overview   Lorenzo Guarcello   Marco Manacorda   Furio Rosati   Jean Fares   Scott Lyon   Cristina Valdivia     109
Aggregate Trends     110
Young People's Time Use     115
Status of Young People in the Labor Market     120
The Transition from School to Work     131
Assessment of the Transition to Working Life     132
Annex 7A.1     141
Notes     144
References     146
What Determines Labor Market Participation by Youth in Burkina Faso?   Daniel Parent     149
Labor Market Indicators     150
Household Income, School Attendance, and Returns to Education     159
Notes     177
References     178
Child Labor and Youth Employment in Ethiopia   Lorenzo Guarcello   Scott Lyon   Furio Rosati     181
National Context     182
Child Labor     185
Labor Market Status of Young People in Ethiopia     188
Transition to Working Life     196
Child Labor, Human Capital, and Youth Labor Market Outcomes     200
Policies and Programs for Youth Employment in Ethiopia     211
Conclusions and Policy Recommendations     217
Notes     220
References     222
Youth in the Labor Market and the Transition from School to Work in Tanzania   Florence Kondylis   Marco Manacorda      225
Why Is Unemployment Higher among Youth?     226
Descriptive Evidence     228
Determinants of Labor Force Status among Youth     246
Conclusions and Policy Implications     254
Notes     257
References     258
How Did Universal Primary Education Affect Returns to Education and Labor Market Participation in Uganda?   Lisa Dragoset   Lars Vilhuber     263
Education and Earnings in Uganda     265
The Literature on Educational Participation in Developing Countries     266
The Model     267
Results     268
Concluding Remarks     276
Notes     276
References     277
Index     281
Box
HIV/AIDS Is Projected to Reduce the Size of the Youth Cohort in Southern Africa     6