- Africa’s digital economy is expanding fast, estimating that 230 million jobs in the region will require digital skills by 2030.
- Organisations are thus shifting their focus on workforce selection going into the future.
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Today's employer is looking for a problem solver and a relationship builder, prompting disruptions in the workplace.
A report by Project Management Institute dubbed 'Global Project Management Job Trends 2023 shows innovations in artificial intelligence are taking over basic works.
"Firms are focused on hiring problem solvers and relationship builders to help them deliver value in the impending AI-dominated future market space," the report says.
It also noted that close to 2.3 million people will be needed each year from now to fill all of the project management-oriented positions expected to open by 2030 on the back of digitilisation.
"Therefore, to remain competitive, companies will need to focus on hiring problem solvers and relationship builders to remain relevant and performing."
This is echoed by the international lobby group, World Economic Forum, which in its latest Future of Jobs Report 2023, says the current globalisation, digital transformation and automation are creating a skilled worker shortage.
"This triggers the unprecedented need for re-skilling and up-skilling," the lobby says.
The report further forecasts that about 61 percent of the current workers will require retraining in the coming three to four years.
World Bank on the other hand says developing nations need to focus more on targeted skills expansion in the digital space in preparation for ‘digital future’ jobs.
For instance, the lender notes that Africa’s digital economy is expanding fast, estimating that 230 million jobs in the region will require digital skills by 2030.
"Nearly 65 per cent of individuals recruited for jobs at African companies will require at least basic digital skills in coming years," the lender says in part.
In Kenya, the job market has been noted to be constantly evolving, and as we move further, more new trends are emerging.
The country's job market is heavily influenced by various factors such as economic growth, political stability, and technological advancements.
According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), as of 2020, Kenya's labor market was characterised by high rates of unemployment, particularly among the youth.
The report further states that the Covid-19 pandemic had worsened the situation by leading to job losses and reduced working hours.
The pandemic had negatively affected the labor market, and the effects could be felt for an extended period.
However, according to the PMI report, the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry is one that shows great promise, having experienced steady growth over the past decade and is projected to continue growing in the future.
The industry offers high-skilled jobs in areas such as software development, digital marketing and e-commerce, with the potential for even more high-skilled jobs to be created in the coming years.
"To take advantage of these opportunities, up-skilling or re-skilling in these areas is essential for career success," the report says.
In addition to the ICT industry, the healthcare industry in Kenya is also showing promise for growth.
It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.9 per cent from 2020 to 2025.
PMI's research further indicated that other promising industries in Kenya include education, agriculture, finance and creative industries.
The government's focus on education has led to increased demand for education professionals. The strong agricultural sector requires skilled professionals in agronomy, agribusiness and food processing.
The financial sector is also rapidly growing, with rising demand for banking, accounting and financial planning professionals.
The creative industries are also showing growth, with opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals in design, fashion and media.
"Closing the skills gap and retaining the right talent in Kenya requires a multi-faceted approach that will require up-skilling and re-skilling the existing workforce to meet the demands of the changing job market," the report says.
"This can be achieved through training programs, apprenticeships and partnerships between businesses and educational institutions."