Sectoral shifts and labour market outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa

Using the Economic Transformation Database, this paper attempts to assess the magnitude of structural transformation and the effects of sectoral shifts due to structural transformation on the labour market performance of 18 sub-Saharan African countries over the period from 1990 to 2018. The first part of this study examines some patterns of structural transformation in Africa, focusing on sectoral output shares, sectoral employment shares, and the relative labour productivity of sectors. We find that Africa is gradually advancing towards structural transformation but at a very slow speed. The empirical analysis indicates that the sectoral shift has a significantly negative impact on the labour market, whereas gross domestic product growth and population density reduce unemployment and non-employment.

运用经济转型数据库，本研究旨在评估结构性转型的规模以及因结构转型而导致的产业部门变动对1990年至2018年间18个撒哈拉以南非洲国家劳动力市场绩效的影响。研究的第一部分对非洲的结构性转型模式进行了探讨，聚焦于产业产出份额、产业就业份额以及各产业的相对劳动生产率。研究发现，非洲正逐步迈向结构性转型，但速度极为缓慢。实证分析表明，产业部门变动对劳动力市场产生显著的负面影响，而国内生产总值增长和人口密度则有助于降低失业率和非就业率。