As informal employment dominates much of Africa’s labor market and millions of young people seek practical skills, understanding how the ILO defines informal apprenticeship highlights both the risks and the opportunities shaping skills development.

Informal apprenticeship refers to the acquisition of occupational skills outside formal education systems. It takes place in the workplace, where a young person learns a trade from an experienced craftsperson through observation, practice and repetition, without a formal curriculum or regulatory framework.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) classifies it as intentional but non-institutionalized learning. Less structured than formal or non-formal education, it occurs within families, communities or workplaces, either self-directed or guided by social norms. In economies where decent work remains scarce and youth unemployment is high, informal apprenticeship provides an accessible entry point into the labor market for many workers.

In practice, it delivers hands-on technical skills and facilitates entry into professional networks and workplace culture. This exposure can improve employability. However, training quality varies depending on the mentor and working conditions. The lack of formal certification can also restrict access to formal employment or further structured training. The ILO advocates mechanisms to recognize acquired skills and integrate them into national training systems.

Why the concept matters in Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 80% of workers are employed in the informal economy, according to the World Bank. The continent is home to about 426 million young people, nearly a quarter of the global youth population, according to the ILO. Many remain outside formal education and training systems, making informal apprenticeship a primary route to skills development and labor market entry.

A 2024 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that informal employment is especially prevalent in rural agriculture and urban services. In this environment, informal apprenticeship serves as a key mechanism for accessing income and gaining economic autonomy. Strengthening recognition of skills acquired through this pathway and building bridges to certified qualifications are therefore critical to improving employability and expanding access to more stable jobs.

Recent policy discussions reflect this shift. In 2025, forums such as Africa Skills Week underscored the need to integrate workplace-based learning into national training strategies, with a focus on innovation, digitalization and youth participation. This signals growing recognition of the role informal apprenticeship can play in economic transformation.

Informal apprenticeship remains a foundational, though often overlooked, component of skills development in Africa. While challenges persist around certification and social protection, closer alignment with formal systems could turn this traditional learning model into a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou