ILO highlights education and jobs as keys to social mobility in Africa

Family background continues to exert a strong influence on social and economic outcomes in Africa, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said, highlighting the urgent need for quality education, labor-market skills, and decent job creation to promote upward mobility.

According to the ILO, intergenerational mobility the ability of individuals to achieve social, educational, or professional outcomes different from those of their parents remains limited across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Low mobility reflects persistent inequalities, with children from low-education households facing significantly lower chances of completing secondary education compared with peers from more advantaged families, despite gains in access to schooling over the past two decades.

“Even when young people attain higher levels of education, their ability to translate skills into better jobs often depends on place of birth, family networks, or parents’ occupation,” the ILO said in a recent report. Data from 2024 show that over 85 percent of young African workers are in informal or vulnerable employment, with limited social protection and few career prospects, sharply constraining opportunities for upward social mobility.

Analysts say the indicator of intergenerational mobility provides a more nuanced understanding of social and economic progress than traditional metrics such as GDP growth or unemployment rates. A country can exhibit strong economic activity while reproducing social inequalities across generations, limiting the impact of public investments on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The ILO, in coordination with the World Bank, emphasizes a three-pillar approach to enhancing mobility: ensuring high-quality basic education, providing access to labor-market-relevant skills, and creating decent jobs that offer genuine paths for career advancement. “Education and employment are mutually reinforcing. Without quality learning and real job opportunities, inequality persists,” the report said.

Improving intergenerational mobility is seen as crucial for Africa’s development. The continent is experiencing rapid demographic change, with youth populations growing faster than ever before. The ILO warned that failure to provide equitable access to education and decent work could entrench social disparities, fueling economic exclusion and social unrest.

Policy interventions that target vulnerable youth and marginalized regions are particularly critical. Investments in vocational training, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship programs, when aligned with market needs, can help young people escape cycles of poverty. Similarly, strengthening labor regulations and promoting formal-sector employment can provide the protections and career pathways needed for sustained upward mobility.

The ILO report underscores that mobility is not just an individual issue but a structural one, reflecting how effectively societies transform opportunities into real outcomes. Countries that successfully integrate education reforms with labor-market development are more likely to see persistent gains in equality, while those that fail risk maintaining generational divides.

As African governments navigate economic recovery and post-pandemic development, the ILO cautioned that social mobility should remain central to policymaking. “Investments in education, skills, and decent jobs are investments in the continent’s future,” the organization said.

By tracking intergenerational mobility, policymakers can evaluate whether reforms genuinely open doors for younger generations or merely reinforce existing hierarchies. The ILO report concludes that meaningful progress requires coordinated action across education systems, labor markets, and social policies to ensure that Africa’s youth can access the opportunities needed to improve their lives and contribute to sustainable development.