Economic integration of young migrants in West & North Africa
Access to work, vulnerabilities & human capital
This paper examines the economic integration of young migrants in urban centres in West and North Africa. The study looks at the extent to which young people’s migration paths contribute to improving their living conditions, and how the human capital they bring facilitates their economic integration.
Methodology: 1,869 young international migrants aged between 18 and 24 years were surveyed between August 2020 and November 2023 in Bamako (n=517), Conakry (n=414), Niamey (n=505) and Tunis (n=433). The average and median age was 22, 36% of respondents were women (n=665) and 64% were men (n=1,204).
Mobility offers economic opportunities to young migrants. Mobility increases young migrants’ access to sources of income compared to their pre-departure situation.
For example, the proportion of respondents indicating that they have an income increases from 62% before their departure to 80% during their mobility.
Employment conditions are often precarious. While mobility offers young migrants economic opportunities, it does not lead to decent employment. They are largely confined to temporary or self-employed jobs without social protection, making them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
53% of respondents who had a source of income at the time of the interview reported being in an irregular situation, which excluded them from protection schemes.
Professional and practical skills acquired before migration improve economic integration. Professional and practical skills acquired before migration, either through educational programs or work experience, significantly improve young migrants’ access to economic opportunities in new environments.
70% of respondents said they needed education-related services, underscoring the need to enhance their working conditions and access to new opportunities in destination countries.
48% were seeking foreign language training to improve integration and reduce exploitation risks, and 43% requesting vocational training to gain recognition of prior learning and access to formal employment.
This publication is based on quantitative data collected through 4Mi, MMC’s flagship data collection methodology. Its main aim is to fill the gap in quantitative data on the economic integration of young migrants in North and West Africa, in the four cities studied.
Other studies by MMC in this series
Educational realities and needs of migrant children and youth in West and North Africa
Urban risks for young migrants in West and North Africa
Refugees and migrants travelling with children in urban centres in West and North Africa
Youth on mixed migration routes in West and North Africa
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