This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
The Future of Work: Why Quality Matters ¶
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution becomes a reality, the demand for quality work is abundant, but the supply is rare. This is a stark reality in Africa, where youth unemployment is a major concern.
According to studies, the causes of high youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa include inadequate skills, lack of experience, and a mismatch between education and training and requisite job skills. In Kenya, for example, a number of youths trained through apprenticeship systems lack recognizable certification.
Professor Bitange Ndemo, a professor of entrepreneurship at University of Nairobi's School of Business, recently convened an online discussion on the future of work, where 23 participants shared their thoughts on the topic. One of the key takeaways was the importance of quality work in the future job market.
Professor Ndemo shared his own experience as a PS, where he asked stakeholders what they expected, and they listed many complaints, including sector policy, connectivity, and privatization of the telecommunication sector. He emphasized the need for employers to appreciate a good outcome and for employees to ask the experts or read what doing a great job in their respective field entails.
He also highlighted the example of South Africa, which had to import artisans from the Middle East and India to help put up facilities for the World Cup due to a severe shortage of artisanal skills. Several other African countries are doing the same for major projects to deliver good work.
Professor Ndemo concluded that governments are often slow, leaving it to the followers to deal with the chronic mismatches that characterize the continent and seek to do a good job to remain relevant in the work space while contributing to prosperity.
He emphasized the need for African governments to invest in modern Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions that meet the requirements of the future of work. This includes offering courses in emerging technologies, such as 3D printing and computer numerical control (CNC) machines, to enable local artisans to compete globally and create more jobs.
He also suggested that governments work towards removing the perception that TVETS are for those who failed in school and that they are a last resort solution. Perhaps it is time to change the name TVET to universities of applied sciences, just as Germany and other countries refer to them.
Professor Ndemo's rant concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own development and to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.
