Work Force in Sub-Saharan Africa Expected To Grow Despite HIV/AIDS Epidemic, IMF Report Says
The size of the working age population in sub-Saharan Africa is growing despite the HIV/AIDS epidemic and could increase significantly within the next 40 years, a trend that could bring faster growth and stronger investment to the continent, according to the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook, which was released on Wednesday, Reuters/Business Day reports. The working age population in sub-Saharan Africa is a little less than 55% of the total population, up from about 50% in 1990, according to the report (Reuters/Business Day, 9/22). That proportion could reach 65% by 2050. "This could help strengthen growth prospects if these additional workers are absorbed into the labor force," the report says (Agence France-Presse, 9/21)
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