Abstract
Latterly, the African labour market has fared very poorly, with the result that millions of young jobseekers are unemployed and jobless. Data on employment from the African Economic Outlook of 2012 show that 22 out of 40 million young African jobseekers – chiefly women – have given up looking for a job, facing the high risk of losing their human and social capital. This implies that now more than ever, young people in Africa are in need of inclusive labour market strategies that help them fulfil their basic needs. Taking this scenario as a starting point, this comment looks into the way both the African governments and their more developed counterparts promote inclusive labour market and integration for the youth, by taking actions at large-scale and in a synergic approach – alongside sound macroeconomic policies, improved social dialogue and political commitment – and more importantly, by reconsidering the school-to-work transition path of the African youth.