By Beth Copeland
28/11/2024
Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an unprecedented demographic shift. With over 60% of its population under the age of 25, the region has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population. By 2030, half of all new entrants to the global workforce will come from the region.
This massive youth population presents both an opportunity and a challenge: Sub-Saharan Africa must create an estimated 15 million new jobs annually to keep up with its rapidly expanding labour force. However, current growth patterns generate only 3 million formal jobs per year, leaving many young people in the region unemployed.
Governments and the private sector must act to close the gap between the increasing working-age population and lagging job growth. Government policies that encourage job creation and investment in human capital, including education and the skills demanded in growth-enhancing sectors, will be critical to realising this potential.
The Urgency of Employment Creation
The youth unemployment crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa is driven, in part, by economies dominated by low-productivity sectors such as informal agriculture, small-scale trading, and subsistence-level jobs. These sectors offer limited opportunities for long-term economic advancement, highlighting the need to transform them into stepping stones for upward mobility. Governments, in collaboration with the private sector, must invest in industries such as modern agriculture, manufacturing, and technology to create more stable, higher-quality jobs.
In addition to industry-specific investments, a focus on education and vocational training is essential. Equipping young people with the skills needed for modern industries will help break the cycles of poverty that trap many in low-wage, low-skill employment. Similarly, investments in infrastructure—particularly in electricity, internet, and transportation—will enhance the business environment, fostering entrepreneurship and attracting foreign investment. Governments must also work to remove bureaucratic barriers that hinder the growth of local businesses and restrict regional trade.
The Global Stake
Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is not just a regional issue; it has global implications. A thriving job market in Sub-Saharan Africa could boost global economic growth, ease migration pressures, and enhance global stability. Conversely, failing to address this challenge could exacerbate poverty, instability, and social unrest—problems with far-reaching consequences beyond the region.
Without sufficient jobs, poverty and food insecurity will rise, heightening the risk of social tension, conflict, and instability. A lack of economic opportunities can also drive migration, primarily within Sub-Saharan Africa but increasingly beyond the region.
A Christian Perspective: Faith in Action
Given the growing importance of Sub-Saharan Africa in global affairs, Christians worldwide have an opportunity to partner with the region to unlock its potential. By combining resources, skills, and a mission-driven ethos, the global Church can help uplift millions of young Africans, fulfilling both a moral and practical imperative for long-term global stability.
Currently, much of the Western Church’s support for the region focuses on relief efforts and microloans. Relief efforts are critical, but more is needed to build a sustainable future for this youth cohort. While microloans are helpful, they do not create the number of jobs required to meet burgeoning employment needs. Young people seek long-term solutions to support their families, which often include extended family members.
With Sub-Saharan Africa also boasting a majority Christian population, this opportunity involves more than just job creation; it gives the Church the chance to establish businesses with a “Business as Mission” mindset. If these new business development initiatives are implemented from the outset with a focus on discipling staff, being a testimony to ethical business practices, and sowing profits into mission activities, they could have an exponential impact on missions in Africa and potentially to the ends of the earth.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s youth population offers immense potential, but realising this potential requires concerted efforts from governments, businesses, and the private sector. Christian individuals and churches, both locally and globally, are uniquely positioned to participate in this transformative work by investing in education, supporting entrepreneurship, advocating for policy change, and providing both practical and spiritual support.
Please pray with us for the following:
- For God to open doors for sustainable employment opportunities for young people in Sub-Saharan Africa and for the creation of jobs in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.
- That God will inspire and equip young Africans to become entrepreneurs who can create jobs and contribute to the economy.
- For churches to provide hope, mentorship, and resilience to youth navigating challenging circumstances.
- For increased collaboration between African governments, international organisations, and the global Church to address the youth unemployment crisis.
References:
https://www.imfconnect.org/content/imf/en/annual-meetings/calendar/open/2024/10/21/188770.html
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/empower-africa-s-youth-to-create-jobs-growth-and-peace/
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:21009e4e-97b9-4a27-8862-0d5b6e0e8464
