Policy Briefs
Jobs and Growth in North Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic
No.
PB 97
Publisher
ERF
Date
October, 2022
Topic
J. Labor and Demographic Economics
In a nutshell:
- Decent work was a challenge for North African labour markets even pre-pandemic, with high unemployment, high informality and low female labour force participation.
- The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic and labour market difficulties created additional challenges for those who had been working or seeking work.
- There was a sharp initial contraction in employment in Q2 of 2020, during the strictest initial lockdown phase of the pandemic.
- Key labour market aggregates, such as employment, tended to recover soon thereafter, but to varying degrees across countries.
- Other indicators – such as hours of work, time-related underemployment and income – had more persistent negative effects.
- Informal workers, farmers and the self-employed tended to be the most affected by the pandemic but did not necessarily receive the most social assistance.
- Detailed data on worker characteristics and topics such as hours and income are needed to track the impact of shocks and progress of recovery.
- Ensuring vulnerable, informal workers have robust social protection should be a key priority for supporting workers in North Africa.
Authors
Caroline Krafft
Associate Professor, Humphrey School of Public Affairs,...
Research Fellows
Ragui Assaad
Professor and Freeman Chair for International Economic...
Research Fellows
Mohamed Ali Marouani
Associate Professor of Economics, Sorbonne University