Democratic Republic of Congo Jobs Diagnostic

Javier Sanchez-Reaza

No 29556489, Jobs Group Papers, Notes, and Guides from The World Bank

Abstract: The economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo is not creating sufficient jobs for its young and rapidly growing workforce. Although the Congolese economy has experienced fast growth and poverty has declined, further reducing poverty will require more dynamic job creation and continued reductions in fertility rates. The current youth bulge and potential demographic dividend will open a unique window of opportunity but will demand faster job creation. The challenge is not limited to reducing unemployment, but includes tackling inactivity and rampant underemployment. Possible avenues to address labor market shortcomings include removing obstacles and resolving market failures for firms to grow, integrating agribusinesses into value chains, facilitating urbanization, and focusing on skills, not just schooling. At the same time, a focus on productivity growth could strengthen its link to employment creation. The report, Democratic Republic of Congo: jobs diagnostic, analyzes the main challenges - at the macro, firm, and household levels - that the country faces in creating jobs. It also outlines the main obstacles to creating more and better jobs that are more inclusive of women and youth.

Keywords: working-age population; rural area; per capita income growth; labor force participation rate; labor productivity; access to modern contraception; average for sub-saharan africa; Fragility, Conflict, and Violence; higher level of education; millennium development goal; lack of employment opportunity; population living in poverty; small and medium size enterprise; lack of employment opportunities; gender gap in education; annual population growth rate; annual average growth rate; youth; demographic dividend; dependency ratio; Labor Market; labor market indicator; agriculture industry; youth bulge; movement of labor; labor force survey; labor productivity growth; labor market performance; employment in industry; children per woman; economically active population; high fertility rate; wage employment; jobs diagnostic; number of workers; commodity price shock; economies of scale; obstacles to growth; lack of investment; privileges and immunity; return to education; conflict and violence; demand for labor; share of work; children and youth; youth dependency ratio; purchasing power parity; macroeconomic and fiscal; decline in fertility; access to finance; real economic growth; consequences of conflict; urban labor market; access to job; forms of employment; national poverty headcount; movement of worker; employment in agriculture; national poverty line; labor force data; labor force growth; rise and fall; demand for product; public sector bureaucracy; gender wage gap; reduction in poverty; barriers to growth; barrier to entry; high growth rate; higher value added; Young Workers; copper price; Job Creation; labor supply; demographic change; employment growth; employment rate; urbanization; urban population; total employment; business environment; oil price; unpaid work; creating job; labor demand; wage work; reduced poverty; productivity gain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 64
Date: 2018-02-01
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Working Paper: Democratic Republic of Congo Jobs Diagnostic (2018)
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