Young Africans are better educated but face employment challenges

Young Africans are now more educated than previous generations but face greater challenges to employment, according to the Pan African Profile Afrobarometer study, released this Monday, which surveyed 39 African countries.

The study, produced between 2021 and 2023, also shows that young people are far less likely than older people to engage in civic and political activities that can lead to change, including voting in elections, but their contacts with local leaders have increased.

Unemployment is the top policy priority that young people aged 18 to 35 want their governments to address, followed by economic management.

On both issues, the majority of young people in most of the countries covered believe their government is not doing a very good job, according to the survey.

Compared to older generations, young people have less trust in government institutions and leaders and are more likely to perceive them as corrupt, according to published research.

Despite this, the research shows that young Africans, like their elders, are committed to democracy and oppose undemocratic alternatives, including military rule, but are particularly dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their countries. by abusing their power, they are more likely to accept military intervention than their elders.

The results show that about two-thirds (64%) of young people aged 18 to 35 have at least a high school education, compared with 35% of young people aged 56 and older.

Compared to countries in Lusophone Africa, 67% of young people in Angola and Sao Tome and Principe are unemployed or looking for work. In Mozambique the figure is 60% and in Cape Verde it is 41% of young people.

Across the 39 countries surveyed, an average of just 19%, two out of every 10 young people, say their government is doing a good job creating jobs.

Like older generations, 64% of young Africans support democracy, 80% reject authoritarian alternatives such as one-man government, 78% reject one-party government and 65% reject military government.

However, 60% (six in ten young people) are not satisfied with the way democracy works in their country.

Some 56% of young people are also more willing to tolerate a military coup if elected leaders “abuse their power.”

Young people are less likely than older citizens to vote in elections (63% vs. 84% for older adults), identify with a political party (37% vs. 45%), participate in public meetings (43% vs. 54%) and join a political party. others to discuss the problem (39% vs. 45%).

However, the research shows that, although low, levels of young people’s contact with traditional leaders, community councilors, political party leaders and members of parliament have increased since 2014/2015.

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that collects data on African experiences and assessments of democracy, governance and quality of life. Since 1999, nine rounds of surveys have been conducted.