Introduction

Singular among the economic challenges facing African countries today is the issue of youth unemployment. Almost 200 million of the population in Africa, equivalent to approximately 17 per cent of the population in 2015, is in the age range of between 15 and 24 years old (AfDB, 2013a). Essentially, in the majority of African countries, young people represent a significant proportion of the total national population. Unfortunately, they constitute the bulk of the unemployed in Africa, irrespective of their school qualifications. And young women are the most likely to be out of the labour market in many African countries, due to entrenched gender biases.

There are many causes of youth unemployment. It is attributed either to the lack of prioritisation of job creation in development policies, or to the socioeconomic environment, without ignoring the negative impact of the structure of African economies and the educational system.

But African economies have been growing healthier since the late 1990s, with an increasing number of African countries engaging or upgrading in global value chains such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Interestingly, governments have been firmly engaging in affirmative actions in favour of youth employment.

The contention in this chapter is that in the current supportive economic environment, Africa must leverage opportunities in the extractive industries by enhancing value addition and converting these into jobs for its growing youth. Indeed, the extractive industries sector suffers from a skills shortage and an apparent low capacity for job generation.

This chapter is structured into five sections. The next section highlights the key aspects of the youth unemployment challenge in Africa. The third section reviews the African heads of states’ Declaration of Intent on the Joint Youth Employment Initiative for Africa (JYEIA), pointing to the need to give due consideration to a keen blend of policy, direct actions and knowledge production. Evidence on the booming of the extractive sector is highlighted in the fourth section. The fifth section examines the means for mobilising partnerships in catalysing opportunities in the extractive industries into youth employment in Africa, and some policy recommendations are offered.

Youth employment: a dire challenge in Africa

As noted earlier, Africa has the youngest population in the world, and it is critical to invest strategically in order to reap the demographic dividend.