IN THE SHADOWS OF JOBLESSNESS: UNDERSTANDING UNEMPLOYMENT DURATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, WITH A CASE STUDY ON THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Abstract

Achieving internal balance and reducing unemployment is a fundamental objective for nations worldwide. Despite various strategies and policies aimed at addressing this challenge, global unemployment rates persist. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2018), developed countries experience an unemployment rate of 5.5%, while developing countries face 5.3% unemployment. Sub-Saharan African countries, including Congo, grapple with higher unemployment rates, with ILO forecasting a rate of 7.3% in 2019. Congo, like many other Sub-Saharan African nations, contends with a demographic landscape characterized by high unemployment rates, particularly among its youth. In 2016, the ILO reported a youth unemployment rate of 30.5%, which rises to 39.0% in urban areas. Additionally, 31.0% of unemployed youth have endured joblessness for at least 2 years. In response, authorities have implemented various programs, including the Graduate Employment Program (PED) in 2004, the Rural Employment Development Support Program (PADER) in 2009, and the Skills Development Program for Youth Employability (PDCE) in 2018, supported by the World Bank. However, these initiatives have failed to significantly alleviate unemployment, as evidenced by the average duration of unemployment remaining stagnant at 2 years, 8 months, and 12 days based on the 2018 survey on improving employment policies (EAPE-C). This study delves into the persistent issue of unemployment duration in Congo, seeking to identify the underlying factors contributing to this challenge.