• Family background continues to strongly shape social and economic outcomes in Africa.

• More than 85% of young African workers hold informal and vulnerable jobs with limited mobility.

• The ILO links stronger intergenerational mobility to education quality, labor-market skills, and decent job creation.

Intergenerational mobility describes an individual’s ability to reach a social, educational, or professional position different from that of their family of origin. Analysts measure this mobility by comparing education levels, income, or socio-professional categories across generations. When mobility remains high, family background exerts less influence on individual outcomes. By contrast, low mobility signals strong persistence of inequality. The International Labour Organization (ILO) integrates this concept into its analyses on youth employment, decent work, and equal opportunity in labor markets.

Recent data show that intergenerational mobility remains limited across many African regions. According to the World Bank’s Global Database on Intergenerational Mobility, children from low-education households in sub-Saharan Africa face a significantly lower probability of completing secondary education than peers from more advantaged families. This gap persists despite education gains achieved over the past two decades. Updated research published in 2024 and used in 2025 analyses confirms that parental education level remains a major determinant of children’s academic success and labor-market integration.

In 2025, the ILO reported that African youth show high labor-force participation but remain largely confined to informal and vulnerable employment. Data from 2024 show that more than 85% of young workers hold jobs without social protection or career prospects. As a result, this structure sharply limits upward social mobility relative to previous generations. Even when education levels rise, access to quality employment continues to depend heavily on place of birth, social networks, and parents’ sector of activity.

Why this indicator matters for Africa

The study of intergenerational mobility allows analysts to move beyond traditional indicators such as economic growth or unemployment. A country can sustain strong economic activity while preserving near-intact reproduction of social inequalities. In a context of rapid demographic transition, this indicator reveals the real capacity of education systems, vocational training, and labor markets to offer new opportunities to younger generations.

Intergenerational mobility also serves as a central tool to assess public policy effectiveness. Low mobility indicates that investments in education, youth employment, or entrepreneurship fail to offset disadvantages linked to social origin. For the ILO and the World Bank, improving intergenerational mobility relies on a clear three-pillar approach that includes strong basic education quality, access to labor-market-relevant skills, and the creation of decent jobs that offer genuine paths for social advancement.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM