Jobtech in Africa: Ecosystem Around Platform Work Must Offer Young People Perspective
Not only is Sub-Saharan Africa the region with the highest unemployment rate, it is also one of the most innovative regions. In this episode of The Gig Work Podcast, Martijn Arets talks to Michelle Hassan, director of the Jobtech Alliance.
While many countries in Europe are experiencing an ageing population and a tightening labour market, the opposite is happening in Africa. Specifically, in the large area south of the Sahara Desert, 10 to 12 million young people enter the labour market every year, while officially only about 3 million new formal jobs are available.
Sub-Saharan Africa is not only the region with the highest unemployment rate, but also one where a great deal of innovation is taking place. So-called “job technology” could well make the necessary difference. Entrepreneurs are increasingly looking to technology for solutions to the labour market, and technology is the link between African businesses, workers and the rest of the world. The Jobtech Alliance helps these entrepreneurs to grow, director Michelle Hassan told Martijn Arets in The Gig Work Podcast.
You can also find the highlights of this episode in this blog post.

Michelle Hassan, director of the Jobtech Alliance
Listen to the podcast
Latest Episodes
May 20, 2026
What an Australian union teaches us about regulating platform workHow can binding agreements be made with platforms regarding minimum standards for platform workers? In this episode, researcher Alex Veen from the University of Sydney and Jack Boutros from the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) in Australia sh…
May 14, 2026
Market Protection or Disruption? The Impact of a Minimum Rate in the Platform EconomyA minimum rate in the platform economy sounds appealing, but it could significantly disrupt the market. Researchers at Delft University of Technology used computer simulations to predict the effects. The conclusion: a fair wage is possible,…
Apr 7, 2026
Platform Work and Rights: Interview with Lena Simet (Human Rights Watch)The platform economy promises flexibility, but at what cost? In this episode of The Gig Work Podcast, Martijn Arets talks to Lena Simet from Human Rights Watch to unpack the downsides of platform work.