Joyce Sabbosa ssebugwawo, Minister of State for Information Communication Technology and National Guidance, Mastercard team, Resident representative, UNDP Uganda, Nwanne Vwede-Obahor
KAMPALA, Uganda (Nov. 7, 2024) — World Data Lab, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has launched the Africa Youth Employment Clock in Uganda, a new digital tool designed to address the growing youth unemployment crisis across the continent.
The tool, which tracks real-time data on youth employment trends, aims to support policymakers and organizations in creating sustainable jobs for Africa’s rapidly growing young workforce. According to World Data Lab projections, Africa’s youth population is expected to increase by nearly 100 million between 2023 and 2030, putting pressure on labor markets to provide meaningful work opportunities.
“The Africa Youth Employment Clock offers critical, data-driven insights to help leaders make informed decisions that will shape a more inclusive and prosperous future for Africa’s young people,” said Wolfgang Fengler, CEO of World Data Lab.
The tool tracks key employment variables such as age, gender, employment status, and sector across all 54 African countries. It provides forecasts up to 2030, offering a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities in the youth labor market. The data is sourced from national statistics offices, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
Accessible at www.africayouthjobs.io, the tool is designed to be user-friendly and publicly available. In addition to country-level data for all African nations, it also offers sub-national data for countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, with plans to expand to Uganda and Senegal in the near future.
Adrian Bukenya, Uganda Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation, highlighted the importance of real-time data in addressing Uganda’s youth employment challenges. “Uganda’s youth population is growing rapidly, and this tool will empower policymakers, businesses, and young people to make decisions that create meaningful employment opportunities,” Bukenya said.
Despite stable national employment rates, many young workers in Uganda remain in low-paying and informal jobs. The launch of the Africa Youth Employment Clock is seen as a crucial step in understanding the complexities of youth employment in Uganda and across the continent.
The Africa Youth Employment Clock’s methodology has been peer-reviewed to ensure the consistency and reliability of the data, making it a valuable resource for government agencies, development organizations, and businesses seeking to address the youth employment challenge in Africa.
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