Work & Labour in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income 59 indicators covering work & labour for Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income. IndicatorLatest Year10-yr change Rank Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 249,290 2027 up 37.0% 34th Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 69.01 2027 down 1.8% 6th Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 111,936 2027 up 45.3% 45th Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.1 2027 up 6.4% 71st Labour dependency ratio 1.59 2027 down 4.9% 21st Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 6,313 2027 up 21.7% 86th Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,089 2027 up 21.5% 86th Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.18 2027 down 2.0% 6th Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.31 % change on previous year 2027 down 46.0% 3rd Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.2 % change on previous year 2027 up 45.3% 2nd Employment 224,417 2025 up 33.7% 36th Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 224,417 2025 up 33.7% 36th Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year 2025 up 57.0% 2nd Employment (ILO modelled estimates), annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year 2025 up 57.0% 2nd SDG indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of output per worker, GDP 2.93 2027 up 7.7% 25th SDG indicator 8.2.1: Annual growth rate of output per worker, GDP 2.91 2027 up 9.6% 25th Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 69.01 2027 down 1.8% 6th SDG indicator 10.4.1: Labour income share as a percent of GDP 38.8 2026 unchanged 77th Labour income share as a percent of GDP 38.8 2026 unchanged 77th LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment 15.28 2027 down 2.8% 15th Total weekly hours worked of employed persons 8.62 million 2027 up 43.9% 35th Ratio of total weekly hours worked to population aged 15-64 25.15 2027 up 3.4% 53rd Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person 36.04 2027 up 5.3% 67th NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 29,388 2027 up 42.9% 23rd NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 23.13 2027 up 6.3% 19th Time-related underemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 11.66 2027 down 5.5% 3rd Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 27,866 2027 up 29.1% 22nd Full-time equivalent employment (ILO modelled estimates) 215,380 2027 up 43.9% 35th LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment 15.28 2027 down 2.8% 15th NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training (ILO modelled) 2.92 % change on previous year 2027 down 52.0% 10th Total weekly hours worked of employed persons (ILO modelled) 3.19 % change on previous year 2027 up 16.9% 3rd Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual 3.04 % change on previous year 2027 down 1.6% 3rd SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) 4.1 2027 up 6.4% 71st Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) 0.135 2025 up 15.4% 81st SDG indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth aged 15 to 24 years not in 23.13 2027 up 6.3% 19th Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1) 1.5 % change on previous year 2025 down 57.5% 14th SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of 4.54 2025 down 14.2% 85th SDG indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total 89.12 2027 down 1.4% 5th LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization 51,616 2027 up 30.6% 29th Jobs gap rate 12.9 2027 down 4.4% 34th Jobs gap 35,346 2027 up 29.7% 32nd Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers rate 9.2 2027 down 8.0% 23rd Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers 25,131 2027 up 24.1% 28th Employment 224,417 2025 up 33.7% 34th SDG indicator 8.8.2: Level of national compliance with labour rights 2.05 2024 down 3.8% 66th Jobs gap rate 12.88 2027 down 4.4% 34th Jobs gap 35,346 2027 up 29.7% 32nd LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force 9.04 2027 down 2.8% 43rd Informal employment rate 89.12 2027 down 1.4% 5th Informal employment 213,075 2027 up 34.7% 27th Potential labour force rate 5.15 2027 down 9.1% 30th Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers 25,131 2027 up 24.1% 28th Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers rate 9.16 2027 down 8.5% 24th Potential labour force rate 5.15 2027 down 9.1% 30th Potential labour force 13,535 2027 up 23.8% 32nd LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization 19.64 2027 down 4.2% 23rd LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization 51,616 2027 up 30.6% 29th Labour force participation rate for persons ages 25 to 54 84.53 2023 up 0.3% 25th Labour force ages 25 to 54 138,727 2023 up 40.7% 40th