Public Employment Programs and Youth Employability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Training and Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Abstract

Abstract

Youth unemployment remains a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, driven by demographic pressure, structural constraints, and skills mismatches. This study evaluates the impact of vocational training and entrepreneurship support programs on youth employability across six countries: Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the analysis combines 120 semi-structured interviews with harmonized labor force survey data. A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach is applied to estimate causal effects over the period 2015–2023. The findings show that integrated training–entrepreneurship programs outperform standalone interventions. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) reaches 18.6 percentage points for combined programs, compared to 12.4 and 9.8 for vocational training and entrepreneurship programs, respectively. These results highlight strong synergy effects and the importance of addressing both supply- and demand-side constraints. The study contributes to the literature by linking human capital theory with the entrepreneurship ecosystem approach and provides evidence-based policy recommendations to improve youth employment outcomes in the region.

Keywords: Youth unemployment; Public employment policy; Vocational training; Entrepreneurship ecosystem; Sub-Saharan Africa; Labor market interventions; Skills development; Mixed-methods research Introduction.