The Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Aidar Abdychev, Cristian Alonso, Emre Alper, Dominique Desruelle, Siddharth Kothari, Yun Liu, Mathilde Perinet, Sidra Rehman, Axel Schimmelpfennig, Preya Sharma

December 17, 2018

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Aidar Abdychev, Cristian Alonso, Emre Alper, Dominique Desruelle, Siddharth Kothari, Yun Liu, Mathilde Perinet, Sidra Rehman, Axel Schimmelpfennig, and Preya Sharma. The Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2018) accessed September 19, 2024

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

Far-reaching changes in technology, climate, and global economic integration are transforming the world of work in ways that we do not yet fully understand. Will the swift technological advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution raise the standards of living for everyone? Or will robots massively displace workers leading to a jobless future where only a few benefit from the fruits of innovation? Will mitigation efforts be able to cushion the adverse effects of climate change, including food shortages and mass migration, which would place extra pressure on urban labor markets? Will countries continue to integrate commercially and financially, fostering growth and employment? Or will trade wars become a norm in a world increasingly fragmented and inward-looking? In sub-Saharan Africa, these uncertainties meet a dramatic increase in population and a rapid expansion in the labor force, which is becoming increasingly urban.

Subject: Climate change, Digital economy, Economic sectors, Environment, Labor, Population and demographics, Technology

Keywords: Africa, Climate change, Country, Country investment plan, Digital economy, DP, DPPP, East Africa, Employment in sub-Saharan Africa, Global, Government policy, Integration in sub-Saharan Africa, Investment plan, Land market, Poverty trap, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa's convergence, Sub-Saharan Africa's export, Sub-Saharan Africa's integration, Sub-Saharan Africa's population, Urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa, Work, Worker

Publication Details

Pages:

59
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Departmental Paper No 2018/018
Stock No:

FWSSAEA
ISBN:

9781484383094
ISSN:

2616-5333

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