Global Employment Trends 2013: Facts and figures for Sub-Saharan Africa

Article | 22 January 2013
  • Economic growth remained buoyant in 2012and unemployment levels were stable at close to 7.5 per cent.
  • Labour force participation remained high, reflecting the vulnerability of workers who cannot afford to leave the labour market.
  • The proportion of workers in vulnerable employment has decreased, but remains extremely high – 77 per cent in 2012.
  • Labour productivity remains very low, particularly in the informal economy.
  • Given the large share of workers in subsistence agriculture in this region, structural change has been an important source of growth; but there has been a slowdown of sectoral re-allocation during the crisis. (See 2nd chart below)
Mouse over the charts to see the values