In Africa, only 4.5% out of the 736.8 million people of working-age are without a job. This is indicated by the International Worker Labour in a report published this week.

The report indicates that 36.6% of the working-age Africans are out of the labour force and 60% have a job. According to the institution, this apparently good figure hides a grimmer fact.

Indeed, most of the working-age population are generally employed in the informal sector with poor quality jobs to support their fundamental needs and escape poverty.

"A sizeable proportion of the employed population is therefore working on arrangements characterized by insecurity, low pay and lack of social protection, i.e. in activities such as own-account work and contributing to family work, which together account for around 68 per cent of total employment in the region”, the report indicates.

Let’s note that less than one worker out of three (27.6%) is salaried. Out of that proportion, North Africa has the highest percentage of the salaried active population with 68.6% against 22.4% for Sub Saharan Africa.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou