Research Activities

Research Projects 2025

Urban Labor Markets in sub-Saharan Africa: Preparations for case studies

Outline

Urban labor markets in sub-Saharan Africa embrace large informal sectors, in which many of workers earn income through self-employment or low-wage employment. While they are expanding by growth of young workers, they have recently experienced significant changes, namely increase of labor demands in labor-intensive industries, rapid development of digital services, and high inflation rate. Accordingly, important characteristics of labor markets, such as wages and earnings, workers’ skills, matching probability, and hence, worker’s choice of a job are likely changing. While quality of employment considered critical for poverty alleviation, descriptions of the recent African labor markets are sporadic yet. To gain better understandings of the growing urban labor markets, this project will make preparations of case studies of formal and informal employment in the African cities.

Period

April 2025 - March 2026

Members
Role Member
[ Organizer ] Fukunishi, Takahiro
[ Co-researcher ] Yoshizaki, Hinako
[ Co-researcher ] Matsubara, Kana(Tokyo University of Science Assistant Professor)
[ Co-researcher ] Ideue, Kazuyo(Meiji Gakuin University Junior Associate Professor)

*Affiliations are as of April 2025.

Expected Outcome
  • Basic theory building project report