Can Economic Reforms Fix Africa’s Unemployment Problem?

Les réformes économiques: une solution contre le chômage en Afrique ?

Isaac Amedanou () and Kwamivi Gomado
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Isaac Amedanou: CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne, UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne
Kwamivi Gomado: LERN - Laboratoire d'Economie Rouen Normandie - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - IRIHS - Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Homme et Société - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université, ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université, EDEHN - Equipe d'Economie Le Havre Normandie - ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université

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Abstract: Unemployment remains one of the major economic challenges facing African countries, particularly among youth and low-skilled workers. In response, many governments have implemented ambitious structural reforms aimed at liberalizing key sectors of the economy. These reforms include the restructuring of network industries—such as electricity and telecommunications—as well as the relaxation of employment protection legislation. Such reforms are commonly presented as essential levers to stimulate investment, enhance productivity, and promote job creation. However, their actual effects on unemployment remain contested, especially in contexts characterized by high levels of informality and relatively fragile institutions. This study contributes to this debate by examining the impact of reforms in network industries and employment protection legislation on unemployment in Africa. It addresses the following question: to what extent do these reforms effectively reduce unemployment, and through which economic mechanisms do they operate?

Keywords: Unemployment; Structural reforms; Local projections; EPL; Network sector; Africa; Secteurs de réseau; Marché du travail; Afrique; Chômage; Réformes structurelles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-02-06
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Published in 2026

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