Africans with more education do not always see an employment
benefit from their schooling. In fact, in most of the 29 countries Gallup
surveyed in 2013, Africans with at least some secondary education fare only
marginally better than Africans with a primary education in terms of a positive
employment outcome (Gallup defines a positive employment outcome as working
full time for an employer, working part time but not wanting full-time work or
being self-employed by choice and not because they cannot find a job.)
Figures paint a dismal, inconsistent picture of the
employment reward for continued education in Africa. This situation likely only
further fuels the lack of incentive that often exists for Africans to continue
their education. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, basic needs often compete with
a family's ability to send their children to school. While primary education
may be viewed as supporting certain occupational activities in rural and urban
communities, it is likely that some families do not see the benefit of
continued education. And, even if families do, the labor sacrifice makes
enrollment beyond primary school infeasible. African families who continue
sending their children to school likely do so because they believe it will lead
to better jobs.
The results suggest the levels of unemployment and
underemployment in most countries surveyed are similar regardless of Africans'
educational attainment. This means a family may sacrifice for their child to
get more education only to see their child unemployed or underemployed at the
same level as someone who only obtained a primary education.
The disparity in educational attainment across sub-Saharan
Africa further highlights the region's challenges in achieving universal
education. Countries such as Niger and Burkina Faso have lower percentages of
their populations achieving at least some secondary education (6% and 10%
respectively) while South Africa and Zimbabwe have 73% and 74% of their
population with at least some secondary education. Interestingly, while the
levels of some secondary education and higher vary significantly between
Zimbabwe and Niger, the positive employment outcome is nearly the same.
Developed countries often experience structural unemployment
where the persistent mismatch of skills and available jobs requires job seekers
to obtain additional education or vocational training. The levels of
unemployment and underemployment seen throughout sub-Saharan Africa, however,
suggest the mismatch may lie in the lack of opportunities available for those
with more education. African employment opportunities must keep pace with
growing levels of secondary and tertiary education achievement. Persistent
structural unemployment that penalizes those with higher education creates the
conditions for "brain drain" while also creating disincentives for
continued education.
Sub-Saharan Africa's structural unemployment challenges
illustrate the complexities of sustainable development. For instance, Nigeria's
oil industry funds further investment in education but produces relatively few
jobs. In other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, university curriculums prepare
graduates for public, not private, sector employment. This focus ensures
persistent skills mismatches while also potentially influencing the decisions
of multinational corporations seeking to recruit locally. Education is an
important component in addressing sub-Saharan Africa's challenges. However, if
Africans do not see higher education leading to better employment
opportunities, the region will continue to lose its brightest talents to
countries with better economic opportunities. This might be one factor
ultimately leading to the region having a diminished voice in determining its
own future.
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