Number of educated employees in sub-Saharan 2020-2035, by gender
As of the beginning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation in 2020, skilled workers in sub-Saharan Africa amounted to over 148 million. This comprised around 102 million men and 46 million women. By 2035, educated male employees in the region are expected to increase by roughly 58 percent. Also, skilled female workers are forecast to grow by some 53 percent. In May 2019, the AfCFTA agreement officially entered into force after 22 African countries had ratified it.