Researchers call on Africa to tackle youth unemployment

African economic researchers have called on African governments to tackle unemployment among the youth who they said are more exposed to conflicts and illegal activities in the continent.The researchers from the Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC) who are meeting in Nairobi this week said the continent faces demographic challenges as its population of young people increases, and access to secure jobs continues to be difficult.

"The burgeoning youth population in Africa is both a curse and a blessing. Yet, what we have been witnessing recently in the region is more of a curse with economies characterized by jobless growth and huge youth unemployment," AERC Executive Director Professor Lemma W. Senbet told the forum in Nairobi on Monday.

Africa has the fastest growing and most youthful population globally. More than 20 percent of Africa's population is between the ages of 15 and 24, according to AERC.

Lemma said the potential is huge for long term economic growth and development if the region manages to harness the capacity of its youth which is also increasingly better educated, ideas for potential transformation of the youth curse into the youth blessing are among those explored at the AERC plenary conference.

The experts said beyond economic costs, high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment have social ramifications.

Some youth, with few job prospects and little hope of future advancement, they said, may see little alternative to criminal activities or joining armed conflicts.

Consequently, unemployed and underemployed youth are more exposed to conflicts and illegal activities - many of them fall prey to armed and rebel groups, and are readily available for anti- social criminal activities that undermine the stability of society.

"The combination of population growth associated with high fertility rates, reduced infant mortality rates, and the slow pace of job creation in Africa, presents challenges to its youth," Lemma said.

He said despite annual economic growth rates estimated at 6 percent or more in sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, there has not been a sufficient increase in stable employment opportunities for young people.

"With current demographic trends, the pressure to create new jobs will only increase over the coming decades," the AERC chief said.