Improving skills development in the informal sector : strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa / Arvil V. Adams, Sara Johansson de Silva, and Setareh Razmar.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Adams, Arvil V.

Contributor:

Silva, Sara Johansson de.

Razmara, Setareh.

World Bank.

Series:

Directions in development: human development.

Directions in development: human development

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Informal sector (Economics)--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Informal sector (Economics).

Small business--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Small business.

Labor--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Labor.

Labor market--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Labor market.

Vocational education--Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Vocational education.

Africa, Sub-Saharan--Economic policy.

Africa, Sub-Saharan.

Sub-Saharan Africa.

Economic policy.

Physical Description:

xxii, 268 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : The World Bank, [2013]

Summary:

Sub-Saharan Africa has millions of nonfarm workers engaged in small and household enterprises outside formal wage employment, constituting the informal sector. Previously seen as a pool of surplus labor expected to be absorbed by future industrialization, this sector has instead become a persistent feature of the region's economic landscape, and accounts for a majority of new jobs created off the farm. Expanding the sector's potential as a source of employment for the region's growing workforce and improving its productivity and earnings are priorities for poverty reduction. This book examines the role played by education and skills development in serving these priorities. Improving Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Strategies for Sub-Saharan Africa looks at how formal education, technical and vocational education and training, apprenticeships, and on-the-job learning shape employment and earnings in the informal sector in five African countries. These countries-Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania-together account for one-third of Sub-Saharan Africa's population of nearly 900 million, and of the nearly 36 million nonfarm workers in those five countries, 7 out of 10 work in the informal sector. The importance of this book is its quantitative assessment, using household surveys, of the relationship of different sources of skills development to the sector in which one works and to one's earnings. The book also examines a set of economic constraints to skills development and offers an insightful approach to improving employment outcomes, including examples of successful interventions taken from the five countries and elsewhere. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction 17

In This Chapter 17

Background 17

Public Interest in the Nonfarm Informal Sector 19

Skills Play Different Roles in the Formal and Informal Sectors 22

What We Know about Skills and the Informal Sector 25

Objectives and Structure of This Book 34

Notes 35

References 36

Part 1 Findings and Actions 41

Chapter 2 Employment in the Informal Sector 43

In This Chapter 43

Introduction 43

A Profile of Those Employed 48

Main Conclusions 56

Annex 2A Employment in the Informal Sector: The Building Blocks 58

Notes 59

References 59

Chapter 3 The Role of Skills in the Informal Sector 61

In This Chapter 61

Introduction 61

What Is Meant by Skills? 63

Looking at the Effects of Skills 64

The Profile of Skills in the Informal Sector 66

Sector of Employment 74

Earnings 78

Main Conclusions 81

Annex 3A Summary of Education and Training Impact on Sector of Employment and Individual Earnings by Country 82

Notes 87

References 88

Chapter 4 Strategies for Improving Skills in the Informal Sector 91

In This Chapter 91

Introduction 91

Factors behind the Shortfall in Skills for the Informal Sector 93

Strategies for Skills Development in the Informal Sector 98

Defining Roles and Responsibilities for Reforms 108

Annex 4A Programs That Address Some of the Informal Sector Training Constraints 112

Note 113

References 114

Part 2 Country Case Studies 115

Chapter 5 Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Ghana 117

In This Chapter 117

Introduction 117

Skills, Employment, and Earnings 119

Acquiring Skills for the Job Market in Ghana 126

Conclusions 130

Annex 5A Tables 131

Notes 144

References 144

Chapter 6 Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Kenya 147

In This Chapter 147

Introduction 147

Skills, Employment, and Earnings 149

Acquiring Skills for the Job Market in Kenya 160

Conclusions 167

Annex 6A Tables 169

Annex 6B Training Scheme Descriptions 173

Notes 176

References 176

Chapter 7 Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Nigeria 179

In This Chapter 179

Introduction 179

Skills, Employment, and Earnings 180

Acquiring Skills for the Job Market in Nigeria 191

Conclusions 196

Annex 7A Tables 198

Notes 203

References 203

Chapter 8 Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Rwanda 205

In This Chapter 205

Introduction 205

Skills, Employment, and Earnings 208

Acquiring Skills for the Job Market in Rwanda 222

Conclusions 230

Annex 8A Tables 232

Notes 237

References 237

Chapter 9 Skills Development in the Informal Sector: Tanzania 239

In This Chapter 239

Introduction 239

Skills, Employment, and Earnings 241

Acquiring Skills for the Job Market in Tanzania 253

Conclusions 260

Annex 9A Tables 262

Notes 267

References 267.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Other Format:

Online version: Adams, Arvil V. Improving skills development in the informal sector

ISBN:

9780821399682

0821399683

OCLC:

842208792