Togo: Worrying situation of youth employment in the Savanes region, with an alarming unemployment rate and under-utilisation of the workforce of 25.6
In the Savanes region of Togo, the employment situation among youth presents significant challenges, according to a study by the National Coalition for Youth Employment (CNEJ). With a population of around 1.14 million inhabitants, this region faces an alarming combined rate of unemployment and underutilization of the workforce at 25.6%, the highest in the country.
One-third of the young population aged 15 to 35 falls into the category of «not in employment, education, or training», and only 3% have access to socio-professional insertion mechanisms.
The study reveals that the level of entrepreneurship is low among young people, with only 14.30% of businesses owned by this demographic, while the majority are owned by individuals over 35 years old.
Despite high self-confidence and a positive perception of entrepreneurial opportunities, the number of businesses created in the region remains limited, with an average of 5.36 employees per business.
This situation is particularly critical considering the region’s already precarious status, regarded as the poorest in Togo, and facing security challenges related to terrorist threats along the northern borders, leading to a state of security emergency since June 2021.
Authorities emphasize the need to strengthen support services from both public and private mechanisms in the region, which already benefits from several support programs, including the Emergency Program for the Savanes Region (PURS) and the COSO project.
