Real time African youth employment monitoring platform launched in Uganda

The World Data Lab (WDL), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has launched the Africa Youth Employment Clock in Uganda, aiming to support youth employment initiatives across Africa.

With Africa’s youth population projected to grow by nearly 100 million between 2023 and 2030, this tool seeks to provide essential data for creating meaningful employment opportunities.

The Africa Youth Employment Clock leverages advanced data modelling and visualization to monitor real-time job growth and project employment trends across Africa’s labour markets. It tracks key metrics, such as employment status, age, gender, and sector, offering insights up to 2030 according to the press release. 

The platform consolidates data from national statistics offices, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), providing a comprehensive source of youth employment data, informing the strategies of policymakers, development organizations, and labour market stakeholders.

Publicly accessible at www.africayouthjobs.io, the Clock features country-level data for all 54 African nations, while sub-national data is available for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, with plans to expand to Uganda and Senegal.

Wolfgang Fengler, CEO and co-founder of WDL, highlighted the tool’s impact for countries like Uganda, where stable employment rates coexist with a high number of young people in low-paying jobs. Fengler emphasized the importance of real-time data for policymakers to foster sustainable and dignified employment.

"The African Youth Employment Clock offers reliable labour market insights and projects youth employment trends up to 2030. Through our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we aim to drive impactful change and deepen understanding to build a brighter future for Uganda’s young workforce,” said Wolfgang.

Mastercard Foundation Uganda country director, Adrian Bukenya, sees the Clock’s extension to Uganda as transformative, given the country’s fast-growing youth population. He noted that real-time data is essential for creating dignified work opportunities.

"This tool will empower leaders, businesses, and young Ugandans themselves to shape a future of meaningful employment. By partnering with World Data Lab, we are equipping Uganda to unlock the full potential of its young people, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and prosperity for all," said Bukenya.