From an international and comparative perspective, young people’s access to the labour market is a complex issue with certain contradictory aspects reflecting the level of development of labour law and industrial relations in their respective countries. In the most advanced economies, there has been a steady increase in the age at which young people exit the educational system and enter the labour market, giving rise to significant economic and social problems. The increase in levels of educational attainment is associated in some cases with an alarming rate of unemployment among those with academic qualifications, while employers encounter considerable difficulty in recruiting workers for unskilled and semi-skilled positions. The economies of developing countries, on the other hand, are characterized by different trends, reminiscent of the early stages of modern labour law, with the large-scale exploitation of young workers and children, many of whom join the flow of migrants towards the more highly developed regions of the world, with the consequent risk of impoverishing human capital in the country of origin. The ADAPT Labour Studies Book-Series has in connection been set up with a view to achieving a better understanding of these and other issues in the field of Labour and Employment relations in a global dimension, through an interdisciplinary and comparative approach.

In order to avoid wasting this precious resource, there is a need to manage it not simply by means of legal regulation that may or may not produce results, but also by means of a reform of the education and training systems on a global scale that should be entrusted to the social partners (unions and employers). Furthermore, the availability to stakeholders in the labour market, of labour market information should not be underestimated in its ability to smooth the school-to-work transition. This appears to be possible only if we are prepared to rethink the role and functions of industrial relations, that need to make a contribution to the modernisation of education and training, closing the traditional gap between school and work through innovative and unique measures.

This book focuses on how to improve the quality of jobs and meet the aspirations of youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. It finds that a strong foundation for human capital development can be key to boosting earnings, arguing for a balanced approach that builds skills and demand for labor.

It is widely acknowledged that youth unemployment is one of the most critical challenges facing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This volume brings together an eminent group of international scholars to analyse the extent and complex nature of this joblessness, and offer a set of evidence-based policy choices that could contribute to solving the problem in the short- and long-run. Part I reviews the existing literature on youth unemployment and underemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa from microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives, while Part II goes on to present detailed country studies of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. These studies offer a deep understanding of the situation on the ground and consider country-specific solutions. Throughout the book it is argued that the standard ILO definition of unemployment is too narrow to correctly portray employment situations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several alternative measures of unemployment are presented, which show that joblessness is far more pervasive than commonly assumed in the literature. This volume will be of interest to academics and policy makers involved in African development.

The authors examine the challenges facing Africa's youth in their transition from school to working life, and propose a policy framework for meeting these challenges. Topics covered include the effect of education on employment and income, broadening employment opportunities, and enhancing youth capabilities. The book includes a CD-ROM of case studies of four countries and household data on 13 countries.