How Africa can create decent jobs for youth

Ministry of Information Communication and Digital economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo while Walking from Kenya News Agency offices at Nairobi Aghakan Walk where he had payed a Courtesy call,he met one of the street Photographer David Kaya and he allowed him to take him some photos to promote his work.[Beverlyne Musili,Standard]

Everyone knows about Africa's jobs crisis. Each year, about 10 million youth across the continent enter the labour force. However, the region only creates about 3 million formal jobs. The remaining seven million people typically get absorbed in agriculture and informal work.

Many remain underemployed throughout their working lives, oscillating between contract work in urban areas and subsistence farming. Ominously, this un/under employment crisis is only getting worse. Farming is no longer an attractive option for most young people. Many prefer urban areas and non-agricultural work. The demise of agriculture as a safety valve means that governments will have to think hard about mass job creation as quickly as possible. This then raises the question: how do countries create jobs?