By Shile GIWA
Development and economic experts on Sunday said Africa countries need to encourage a better enabling environment and visionary leaders, not only in politics, but at all levels to guarantee efficient workforce in the future.
They spoke at one of the side events at the ongoing 52nd Session of the Economic Commission for Africa, Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in Marrakech, Morocco.
The event was jointly organised by the UN African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), in collaboration with the Policy Centre for the New South; a policy-oriented think-tank and High Commission for Planning of Morocco.
It was held under the sub-theme: “Planning for Tomorrow Workforce: is Africa Ready?”
Participants included Dr Karima Bounemra; Ben Soltane, Director, Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP); Lilia Hachen Naas, Director at the ECA Regional Office for North Africa; Dr Karim El Aynaoui, President– Policy Centre for the New South.
Others were: Peter Van Rooij, Deputy Regional Director for Africa, International Labour Organisation (ILO); Dr Frederick Agah Yonov, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO); Dr Moubarack Lo, Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Senegal, among others.
The panelists noted that globalisation, technological breakthrough, demography and climate change are having profound impact on labour markets, while affecting both the quantity and quality of future jobs.
“Africa cannot afford, nor does it have to miss these technological-driven transformational opportunities; as the world’s youngest region, with about 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25.
“With an estimated 10 to 15 million young people joining Africa’s labour market every year, the continent has a demographic dividend that can propel and sustain its transformation,” Soltane said.
She explained that the main objective of dialogue was to provide a platform for critical thinking on the relevance of African education and training systems in an evolving, digital and knowledge-based economy.
The IDEP chief added that the parley was to encourage exchange of views from different outlooks and opportunities for Africa to respond to the future of work.
She said African Governments need to start reforms in the education sector to train graduates for future jobs.
“It is not for certain how the labour landscape will be two decades from now, but we can anticipate the skills that would be needed to make the workforce more productive and efficient,” Soltane said.
Also, El Aynaouisaid that preparing a workforce for the future was a complex issue that does not only confound Africa, but the world.
“We are facing a dynamic and rapidly shifting labour workforce, but it is important to start training our youths with the right skill set and mental attitude to make them competitive.
“Our education sector is not adapting quickly to this shifting landscape.
“Government regulation remains rigid, heavily regulated and centralised.
“Therefore, reforms need to start from policies, which increase private participation and allow for experimentation in anticipation for future labour needs,” Aynaoui said.
TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria reports that Africa continues to be confronted with high level of unemployment, vulnerable employment and working poverty with little signs of potential recovery.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB) of Africa’s nearly 420 million youth aged 15-35, more than 30 per cent are unemployed and discouraged, 30 per cent are vulnerably employed, and only 15 per cent are in wage employment.
AfDB said African youths were missing out employment opportunities; adding that there was an increased mismatch between skills supply and demand.
The Bank said innovation, science and technology requirements were needed to push through the continent’s transformation agenda.
40 per cent of employers from 43 countries reported difficulty filling open job positions.
