Africa: 800 Million Young People Face a Future Without Jobs

What the report says

The UN Development Programme says about 800 million young people entering labour markets in developing economies in the coming years may be unable to find jobs unless governments take action. The warning was delivered by UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo during a press briefing in New York, while he was in Bangkok for the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings, according to the UN News report distributed by AllAfrica.

De Croo said the challenge reflects demographics in many developing countries, where median ages are often between 18 and 25, and that the job outlook is based on current technology trends. He framed employment creation as a policy issue rather than an automatic outcome, and said active labour measures could change the picture. The report also notes that AI may affect some jobs, but sectors such as care, agriculture and tourism are still expected to generate significant employment.

Alongside the warning, UNDP launched two initiatives: the Investment Accelerator, aimed at improving investment policy, legal frameworks and project pipelines, and the Jobs for Prosperity Facility, designed to help countries target high-employment sectors, match skills with employer needs and reduce barriers to business investment and hiring. The programs are being supported with partners including the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with pilot work already underway in several countries.

The announcement comes as many developing economies face what UNDP described as overlapping pressures from high energy costs, severe weather impacts and expensive borrowing. The agency also cited a recent rise in multidimensional poverty and said job creation remains central to reducing poverty and supporting long-term growth.