Tech Platforms Fuel Job Opportunities Among Youth in Africa
In Africa's burgeoning tech industry, the most sought-after digital skills are software development, data analysis, digital marketing, and cybersecurity. For the youth of Africa, opportunities abound, thanks to digital internship platforms that offer both remote and in-person experiences.
These platforms, such as Tshepo 1Million in South Africa, YES South Africa, ACWICT Kenya, The African Talent Company (TATC), Jobberman Nigeria, and others, leverage AI and digital technology to provide personalised career advice, identify skill gaps, offer vocational training, and connect youth to job opportunities. Particularly, they focus on marginalised groups like women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.
These platforms are addressing the digital skills gap and youth unemployment in Africa in several ways. For instance, they use AI to analyse labour market data for tailored career guidance and relevant skill certification, aiming to certify 30 million Africans in AI-related skills by 2025. They also deliver low-bandwidth, data-driven digital solutions to extend their reach in underserved and marginalised communities with limited internet infrastructure.
Moreover, these platforms offer vocational training and entrepreneurial support that target sectors of growing demand, including the gig economy, electronic retailing, content and application development, and digital services. They also partner with governments, international donors, and private sector actors to combine technology with financial inclusion and employment services across various African regions.
These efforts aim to tackle the structural issues fueling youth unemployment in Africa, such as education-job market mismatches, poor internet access, and underdeveloped infrastructure, while promoting digital literacy and practical skills to participate in the continent’s rapidly expanding tech ecosystem. For example, initiatives in Uganda and Tanzania emphasise vocational training and entrepreneurship for marginalised youths, especially young women, to reduce barriers to economic opportunities.
However, challenges remain. Improving access to reliable internet and electricity, expanding digital literacy initiatives, making platforms accessible for mobile users, and building collaborations with local businesses can help overcome these challenges. Young people in rural areas can access tech platforms and training opportunities by leveraging mobile devices, affordable internet solutions, and community resources.
Despite these challenges, tech platforms are overcoming barriers by expanding their reach through mobile-friendly solutions, partnerships, and offering training programs to equip young people with essential digital and professional skills. By doing so, they are playing a crucial role in bridging the digital skills gap and fostering a more inclusive and dynamic tech industry in Africa.
- These digital internship platforms, including Tshepo 1Million, YES South Africa, ACWICT Kenya, and TATC, are not only focusing on technology skills like software development and data analysis but also extending their training programs to lifestyle sectors such as education-and-self-development.
- In the quest to promote a more inclusive tech industry, these African tech platforms are also prioritizing women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons, providing them with opportunities in areas like retailing, content development, and digital services, thus transforming their lifestyle and financial status.
