With jobs disappearing across the developed world and arriving too slowly to keep pace with the population growth and aspirations of the developing world, the very nature of work is being challenged as never before. We asked our panel of global experts what they see as the most effective and expeditious way of creating jobs.
Africa’s workforce, young and growing quickly, will be the world’s largest by 2035. Unemployment stands at just 9 percent, but two-thirds of the labor force are in vulnerable, non-wage-paying jobs. Stable employment is being created too slowly to absorb the 122 million new workers expected this decade. A focus on economic growth is necessary but not sufficient. Natural resources make a major contribution to GDP but employ less than 1 percent of Africa’s workforce. Rather, a jobs strategy should target those sub-sectors with the greatest job creation potential—notably agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.
It can...
