Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to become the world’s largest source of new workers over the next 25 years, with more than 620 million people expected to enter the region’s working-age population by 2050, according to the World Bank.

The demographic shift is expected to place Africa at the centre of the global labour market as ageing populations and shrinking workforces reshape economies in other regions.

The World Bank estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa’s population will rise from about 1.5 billion in 2024 to 2.5 billion by 2050, with more than 600 million additional people entering the working-age population.

However, the region’s rapid population growth presents a significant economic challenge.

Analysts say creating enough productive jobs to absorb millions of new workers entering the labour market each year will be critical to translating the demographic boom into sustainable economic growth.

The World Bank estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa will need to create an average of 25 million jobs annually through 2050 to keep pace with the growth of its working-age population.

Meeting that target could prove challenging, as economic growth across the region has not generated jobs quickly enough to absorb the expanding labour force.

The institution has therefore called on African countries to pursue more productive, diversified and private-sector-led economic growth, backed by greater investment in infrastructure, skills development and institutions that can lower the cost of doing business.

The World Bank has identified infrastructure and energy, agriculture and agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing as sectors with significant potential to create jobs at scale.

Unlocking this potential will require more than public spending. The bank said greater private-sector investment, improved infrastructure and a stronger business environment will be critical to helping companies expand production and create more jobs.

It also stressed the importance of skills development as African economies adapt to evolving global supply chains and emerging industries.

For Nigeria, the demographic shift is particularly significant. As Africa’s most populous country, its rapidly expanding workforce could become a major driver of economic growth if enough productive jobs are created.

However, without a corresponding acceleration in job creation, the country’s population growth could worsen unemployment and underemployment while putting further pressure on household incomes.