The evidence on the effects of apprenticeship remains inconclusive due to the divergence in the findings from different countries. Additionally, there is a lack of systematic reviews synthesizing the existing evidence of apprenticeship’s influence on youth’s economic outcomes. This systematic review sought to help fill the empirical gap by comprehensively synthesizing the existing evidence.
Adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we searched six databases using a combination of standardized keywords. The 1,302 obtained studies were uploaded onto the Covidence web platform to manage the screening process. Data were extracted from 21 selected studies and analyzed to identify themes and variabilities.
The studies reviewed were primarily conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa and reported positive impacts on youth employment and income. Technical and vocational skills training components effectively improved employment odds, particularly among those under 25 years of age. On the other hand, the grants and financial education components were heavily linked with income generation.
The emerging evidence should inspire increased investment in skills training as a conduit for job creation and poverty alleviation. Additionally, the findings on financial education’s importance in youth’s economic outcomes should encourage apprenticeship stakeholders to engage youth in financial training schemes. Overall, apprenticeship has contributed to poverty alleviation among youth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
The current review’s findings highlight the consensus that apprenticeship fosters employment creation and income generation for youth in SSA. They point to the need for a more concerted policy direction and investment to promote technical and vocational skills, which can boost youth’s employment prospects.
