Research Focus
Youth, Work, and Automation in Sub-Saharan Africa
How young Africans are navigating AI-driven shifts in labor markets — and what institutions can do to close the skills gap.
The demographic moment
Sub-Saharan Africa is the youngest region in the world, with more than 60% of its population under 25. At the same time, AI and automation are reshaping the entry-level jobs that have historically absorbed young workers — in BPO, retail, logistics, and administrative services. The collision of these two trends will define the continent's economic trajectory for the next two decades.
Our evidence base
We combine labor-force surveys, platform data, and qualitative fieldwork with young workers across Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal to map which roles are being augmented, which are being displaced, and which new ones are emerging. We pay particular attention to the gig and platform economy, where most youth employment growth is now concentrated.
From evidence to policy
Our findings inform technical and vocational training (TVET) reform, national AI strategies, and employer-led skilling partnerships — so that young Africans participate in the data economy as builders and decision-makers, not just as moderators and annotators of someone else's AI.
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