Female Labor Force Participation and Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Asia and Latin America

Keita Ohashi, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Reiko Hayashi, National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Japan

It is clear that achieving economic development with large number of well-educated young work force will be derived from the demographic dividend. In the era of SDGs where the Goal 8, “Decent Work for All” is brought to the front line of development and in the current context of sub-Saharan Africa with increasing promotion of female autonomy and their empowerment, female labor force participation will be an important element to facilitate social change including the acceleration of fertility transition. How about the demand side of the labor? Majority of young people including women are in informal sector or underemployed in reality. This paper will examine the lessons from Asia and Latin America in terms of job creation for women in their demographic transitions and demographic dividend experiences. Africa is rich in its natural resources and becoming rich in human capital especially for women with increasing quality of education and health.