Why Skill Development Is Important for Youth Employment

Title: Why Skill Development Is Important for Youth Employment

Published By: akachukwu

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In Africa, from bustling tech hubs in Lagos to the agricultural heartlands in Kenya, an unspoken crisis is forming. Each year millions of energetic, young people finish school with a degree in hand and are greeted with an unhelpful message: there are no jobs.

However, there is a stark reality that we don't like to confront. The lack of employment opportunities is not the only issue, it is also a mismatch between the skills required by employers and the graduates.

Skill Development comes into play here as a solution. It is the link between education and employment. To answer this question, we need to change the question that we are posing to the world: “Who will give us jobs?” to “Do we have the skills to create or fill the jobs?”

Skill development is the only lifeline for youth employment today for the following reasons.

 The gap between theory and practice.

The traditional education system is very good at teaching theory. We can read dates of history and solve advanced algebra. However, many young people are leaving school with no experience of writing a professional email, using a spreadsheet or budgeting.

Employers are fed up with training new recruits from the bottom up. They have to have people who can generate value from day one in a fast-moving economy.

Skill development fills this void, from digital marketing to welding, coding to logistics. It brings abstract knowledge to life and transforms it into tangible output. Once a youth learns a skill, he/she ceases to be a liability and becomes an asset.

 Skills to Create Resilience (The Freelance Economy)

Times have changed when the only job available was a position in the government. The gig economy and remote working has taken off. One Accra Graphic Designer can work for a client in London. One of the things that a virtual assistant in Nairobi can do for a CEO in New York is to handle his or her calendar.

However, without a skill, you won't be able to avail of these opportunities.

If a youth has a marketable skill, such as copy writing, data analysis or video editing, he or she no longer needs to be hired by a local factory or bank. The become immune to local state of economic decline. They can work freelance, consult or even set up a micro business from their mobile device.

Skill development becomes a job seeker to a job creator.

 3. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is Here

Artificial Intelligence, automation and green energy are not going to come, they are here. There is a lack of traditional office work. Manual tasks like repetitive work are becoming automated.

What's left are jobs that demand critical thinking, problem-solving and technical dexterity.

For African youth to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, they need digital skills. This doesn't always mean coding. It involves knowing how to leverage digital tools, interpret data, conduct ecommerce and manage digital supply chains. The next generation will be left behind in the future economy if they lack these skills.

 4. The "No Experience" Cycle is broken!

We are all familiar with the vicious circle, "You need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get experience. Skill development turns this cycle around.

Portfolio evidence is obtained through vocational training, internships and boot camps. A talented youth doesn't simply claim to have studied business — he shows you proof.Where a student of business merely states "I studied business," the talented one will show off a social media campaign that reached 10,000 people or a website he created for e-commerce.

If you have a skill, your portfolio is more important than your degree. It shows that you can work, even if you don't have a title.

 6. Discuss Africa's unique needs.

Africa faces its own problems of infrastructure, logistics and inefficiencies in agriculture. Who will solve these? Not foreign consultants. Trained local youth.

A young person receives training in solar panel installation and the energy gap is filled.

A youth trained in drone technology is assisting farmers in monitoring their crops.

Youth learns to develop an app that addresses traffic problems.

Skill development is not about simply teaching youth to fill existing jobs, it is about teaching them how to solve local problems – and thus provide new jobs for other youth.

 Parents and Governments, here is the Call to Action for you!Parents and Governments, here's the Call to Action for YOU!

If you're a parent: Don't push only for university degrees. Promote vocational education and training and apprenticeships. A qualified plumber or electrician can make more money and hire more people than a less qualified individual with a general degree in the industry.

If a government: Support technical and vocational education (TVET). Collaborate with private sector businesses to create training centres. Intelligence shouldn't be measured in degrees.

Do not wait for the system to change, if you're a young person. The Internet is the biggest university ever constructed. There are plenty of free courses on YouTube or cheap ones on Coursera and Udemy on subjects such as Excel, UX Design, or Project Management. Gather abilities such as money and more. They are the only ones that can't take away from you!

 The Bottom Line

Youth employment isn't about math, it's about skills. We don't lack bright young minds; we're not failing. We are failing to give them capabilities rather than certificate.

We need to industrialize our talent to ensure the future of Africa. It's important to focus on what you can do, rather than what you know.

Job opportunities are evolving. There is no insurance policy against unemployment other than a skill that is relevant, and in demand.

What new skill are you honing to remain relevant? Leave comments below.

The world of work is constantly shifting, with youth employment severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.The job market is changing rapidly and COVID-19 is impacting youth employment badly.