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Automation and the Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Alexander Gaus, Wade Hoxtell

Analysis of the Potential Impact of Automation on Sub-Saharan African Economies

Automation is leading to a profound transformation of the economies of industrial, emerging and developing countries alike. What are the factors that are driving or inhibiting the automation revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa? Is automation a threat to the countries’ workforces? The discussion paper "Automation and the Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa" analyses the potential impact of automation on Sub-Saharan African economies and helps to frame future debates on the topic.

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Automation of work, which underpins the 4th industrial revolution, is leading to profound transformations of the economies of industrial, emerging and developing countries alike. Some fear wide-spread job losses, others are more optimistic about the future of work. While the future cannot be predicted, assessing the factors that are driving or inhibiting the automation revolution, namely social, economic, regulatory, infrastructural and capital factors, is key to understanding possible futures. Critically, these factors are different across countries and, as such, the trajectory and impact of automation will vary.
 
This discussion paper provides an in-depth review of the most critical factors linked to automation and the future of work and applies them for the first time to the case of Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis shows that although tough times may be coming for some employees, the impact of automation in Sub-Saharan Africa will be largely limited. While this dampens gloomy prospects of widespread unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is nevertheless troubling because it puts the limited competitiveness of African economies under the spotlight.

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