Digitalization: A Catalyst for Intergenerational Occupational Mobility?

IMF Working Papers, May 30, 2025

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Canonical URL: Digitalization: A Catalyst for Intergenerational Occupational Mobility?

The paper analyzes the link between digitalization and intergenerational occupational mobility in Africa.
Digitalization could help boost upward mobility and limit the risks of downward occupational mobility, thereby improving job opportunities.
New technologies and digital tools can intensify the positive effects of strong institutions, political and social stability, better access to adequate digital infrastructure, and education to create jobs and enhance living standards in Africa.
Similar results hold for downward mobility.

Model: probit model.
Sample: a large sample of 28 million individuals aged 14 and higher and co-residing with at least one individual from the older generation.

Strengthening institutions and ensuring political and social stability are important to increase and accelerate upward mobility.
Better access to adequate digital infrastructure is critical to leverage digitalization for mobility gains.
Education complements digital tools and technologies to improve job opportunities and living standards.
Digitalization can intensify the positive effects of these enablers and contribute to creating jobs.

Source: IMF Working Papers web landing page for "Digitalization: A Catalyst for Intergenerational Occupational Mobility?"