Job creation is becoming the defining test of leadership across Africa as the continent faces unprecedented labor-force growth in the coming decades. According to the World Bank, Africa could add about 740 million working-age people by 2050, with approximately 12 million young people entering the labor market each year. As this reality sets in, the conversation is shifting from how many jobs are needed to what kind of jobs are created, with experts emphasizing productivity, stability, and dignity. Given that around 85% of Africans work in the informal sector, analysts argue that any viable employment strategy must engage this reality rather than ignore it. While mining is regaining attention amid demand for critical minerals, experts contend that the bigger prize lies in smarter public spending on skills training, supportive infrastructure, and industrial corridors that can translate resource revenues into lasting employment.
Semafor
