For many youth in Africa, the educational systems in African nations are not adequate preparation for the workplace, as the curriculum is mostly theoretical. There is often a mismatch of skills, with most educational institutions still offering courses that are no longer relevant to the current job market, given current economic trends. This raises the following questions:

• How is the skills gap defined more specifically, a prerequisite for designing and implementing adequate solutions?
• How would private sector employment evolve if the match between skills and private sector needs were better synchronized?
• What is the responsibility of the private sector in promoting youth employment?

This study, done in Ghana and Senegal, seeks to address these questions. It finds that the markets for entry-level labor in both countries have great potential, but need to address issues of attrition (turnover rates), literacy efforts, gender disparities, IT and leadership skills, and so-called "soft skills" (especially professional maturity). The report contains extensive detail for each market. Download the full report below.