Changing Patterns of Employment and Unemployment in Africa A Comparative Perspective on Four Sub-Saharan Countries

Employment is a key factor in the human dimension of development. In its broader understanding, it means access to livelihood; in its narrower understanding, it implies activities which result in a job and regular income for those wishing to work. The demographic changes, the rate, patterns and quality of economic growth, its consequences, the policies of the countries, the deficiencies and inefficiencies of the labour market, unemployment, exclusion, the character of income distribution and degree of poverty, are synthesised in the utilization of human resources of a country. It is one of the most important indicators of human security