Preparing Young Africans for the Future Job Market

Title: Preparing Young Africans for the Future Job Market.

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Authors: Samir Amin, Jonathan Grimes, and Robin Haens. The authors are Samir Amin, Jonathan Grimes and Robin Haens.

The world of work is in a state of rapid change. Ten years ago, job were still present, but not anymore. The positions which already don't exist and will be created in 10 years have not yet been invented.

When their name is called, it is a frightening prospect for young Africans. It's also the best opportunity in a generation!

As the rest of the world frets that automation will take jobs, Africa has the opportunity to create its workforce from a fresh perspective (correctly). We have no legacy systems and outdated industrial practices to deal with. We can jump ahead in time.

As with everything, there's a lot of work to be done before you can leapfrog. So what do we need to do for young Africans to prepare them for tomorrow's work force?

 1. Stop Teaching Memorization. Start Teaching Problem-Solving.

In the job market of the future, people who can repeat facts will not be rewarded. Google can do that. AI can do that quicker and with greater precision.

But AI isn't able to solve a novel problem in an unfamiliar context. It cannot walk through the chaos of a crowd at a bustling Lagos market, it cannot negotiate a land dispute in a rural community and it cannot solve how to take medicines to a village that is not on a road!

It is crucial that young Africans learn to think critically, adapt and solve problems creatively. These are the skills that can't be made by a machine. The approach in schools has to change to "how would you approach this problem?" instead of "what is the answer?".

 2. Digital Literacy is no longer an option.

Digital skills are no longer a "nice to have" but a "must have. They are as basic as reading and writing.

Every youth entering the workforce must have some level of basic digital competency, to use a spreadsheet, make a presentation, access cloud storage, understand and use online safety, and communicate through professional communication platforms such as Zoom, Slack, and email.

In addition to basic skills, niche digital skills will be rewarded with higher wages. These are growing areas of data analysis, cyber security, search engine optimization, content creation and user interface design. Any of these knows is enough for a young African to be able to work for a company in Berlin, Singapore or San Francisco without ever leaving home.

 Overcome the Hybrid Future (3.5% of the game's duration)

COVID-19 proved that work at home can not only be done, it can be done better. There are many businesses throughout the world that will never be heading back to the full-time office again.

It is amazing news for African youths. The old rule of geography does not apply anymore. A skilled young programmer can earn a Silicon Valley salary at local rates in Kigali. A virtual assistant in Nairobi can assist three different executives in three different time zones.

This will, however, need preparation. The need of young Africans is to be able to work without supervision, communicate well in writing, work alone and across cultures to produce results. These are soft skills, but very important to remote work.

 4. Green Economy is on the horizon!

Climate change is not only a solution to solve, it's a whole new economy being constructed. The industries of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, electric transport and the design of circular economy are expanding.

Africa is the world's youngest, and the most crying out for green solutions. A match made in heaven.

Helping young Africans learn how to install solar panels, produce biogas, practice sustainable farming and how to recycle goods is good for the environment. It's a good business. The green economy will create millions of jobs. It is imperative that the youth of Africa are qualified to fill them.

 Practical application of Emotional Intelligence and Human Skills Human skills and Emotional Intelligence in practice.

The more mundane the role, the more important the skills that are uniquely human. Empathy, collaboration, negotiation, leadership, emotional intelligence cannot be coded.

A man is standing in the middle of a car park holding a frightened man by the shoulders and talking to him. A salesperson who reads the hesitation of the client. A leader who can solve team conflicts. A motivating teacher for a struggling student. These roles are dependent on interactions with people.

Interpersonal skills are to be developed in conjunction with technical skills in young Africans. The future workplace will be more automated, but more human as well. Those who are successful will be those who know people.

 6. Lifelong Learning Is the New Normal

There is no longer a time of teaching one thing and practicing it for 40 years. The future worker will not only have several jobs but he will also have several careers.

That is, young Africans need to be lifelong learners. They have to be open to continuous upskilling, reskilling and adapting. The programmer of the present day may require to acquire a different programming language next year. What a marketer needs to know today may change tomorrow with the advent of AI tools.

The paradigm shift is essential: Learning doesn't stop once you have left school! It's an ongoing thing. The best employee is the one who learns the most easily.

 7. Entrepreneurship as a Core Subject.

African education has been making young people wait for people to create jobs for them for too long. That model isn't working. The job opportunities that any government or corporation can ever provide for the youth bulge of the continent are not sufficient.

The solution is to educate youth to become self-employed. The concept of entrepreneurship should be introduced in primary school and continued up to higher education. Students should be able to recognize opportunities, make small risk calculations, hone their money management skills, market products, and deal with customers.

There will be some that don't make it. That is fine. Failure is the better educator than any book! The aim is not to ensure the success of every business but to create a generation of young people that don't panic when no one is willing to give them a job. They just construct something on their own.

 The last thing young Africans today will need is this Practical Checklist.

If you are interested in preparing for the future job market, you must begin now:

- Pick up 1 digital skill this month. Basic coding or Excel/Canva. Choose one and complete a free course.

- Build a portfolio. Don't simply give out what you've learned. Display the items created.

- Develop a LinkedIn profile. Get in touch with individuals in the industries you are interested in.

- Practise English (or French). A lot of career opportunities around the world call for excellent communication skills in these languages.

- Come together as a community of learners. Iron sharpens iron. Identify people who are upskilling and keep each other accountable.