World Data Lab (WDL), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation on March 19,2024 launched the Africa Youth Employment Clock in Nairobi Kenya. First of it’s kind, the digital tool will allow users unpack statistical data on the situation of youth employment trends in Africa
“We are proud to partner with the Mastercard Foundation to launch the Africa Youth Employment Clock. We believe in the power of youth employment data in Africa –offering the basis for more informed decision-making. The Clock will allow governments, private sector, and young people, to have access to more nuanced data on the concrete youth employment questions they have.” said Dr. Wolfgang Fengler, CEO, Word Data Lab.
The labour market model monitors real-time job growth and forecast employment trends in terms of status, age, gender, and sector in Africa .The surveys and data sets are made available by the national statistics offices (labour force and household surveys), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).As part of the initiative, WDL engaged with national statistics offices in Kenya and Rwanda as well. 
According to Tade Aina, Chief Impact and Research Officer at the Mastercard Foundation,said providing access to dignified and fulfilling work for young people in Africa is crucial for the continent’s growth .
“The Africa Youth Employment Clock aligns with our mission to enable 30 million young Africans to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. This tool will play a key role in delivering precise labour market insights to support our youth empowerment efforts, in Africa as a whole, ” said Aina.
WDL projections indicated that Africa will experience i’ts highest ever youth population growth between 2021 and 2030, with the population expected to increase by almost 100 million between 2023 and 2030.
Labour Ministry Secretary of Youth Affairs,Mr. Raymond O. Ouma cited the move by World Data Lab and Mastercard Foundation as essential especially in gaining data-driven insights in regards to Kenya’s young workforce.
“Cross sector data innovations, such as the Africa Youth Employment Clock provide an important base upon which to learn new insights, to raise awareness, and to understand not just today’s trends but tomorrow’s possibilities.Indeed, the youth employment agenda is crucial for Kenya’s development in addressing the unique needs of Kenya’s young workforce,”he said.
The country-level youth employment data is available for all 54 African states, while sub-national data is currently available for Kenya and Rwanda. Over time access to sub-national data will expand to include Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia, countries where the Mastercard Foundation supports country-based programs.
