One of the world’s largest sources of financial information, the World Bank, has demonstrated how employment rate would increase in Sub-Saharan Africa if a conducive environment is created for technology to strive.
In its headquarter in Washington, USA, World Bank shared a prediction that Africa’s workforce would become the largest among the global workforce by the year 2100. In response to this, World Bank suggests that the continent should facilitate the use of digital technologies to increase employment opportunities, as it reports that not less than 22 million Africans join the workforce every day.
According to reports from Digital Africa Technological Transformation, digital technologies cover the scope of internet services, access to up-to-date computers and gadgets, and data infrastructures. Including tech-integrated services in management, human resources, logistics, financing, marketing, insurance, purchase, and sales, to reach its employment target.
The report was supported by two empirical studies which analyzed geospatial information on the availability of mobile internet towers over the years. It concluded that internet availability enhances job creation, sustenance and can create opportunities for innovative investment.
Sadly stating that the limitation to digitalizing jobs in Africa is the lack of digital infrastructure coupled with the low use of digital technologies. According to the report, which outlines the accessibility of broadband internet networks in Africa, an average of 84% of Sub-Saharan Africans can access the 3G network while 54% can access the 4G broadband network, but only 22% can use the available mobile internet services.
The report further identified the reason for Africa’s low digital use, highlighting the lack of finances to afford mobile services, the relatively high cost of internet services, and the willingness to use them.
To curb the challenge, World Bank recommends ways for data affordability by employing price reduction tactics like data price regulation and access to good credit facility. Adding that internet use should be used to generate income, thereby reducing the poverty line for continued affordability of internet services for productive operations.
Moreover, creating easy-to-use apps that use African languages would help attain faster adoption of modern technologies. With supporting, factors such as education, training, and accessible road and finances would scaffold the progress of technology for job creation in Africa. Also, creating a conducive environment for digital technologies to strive by enacting favourable policies that would cut across public-private businesses and business advisory services.
In a nutshell, Africa needs “more activist policies” when jobs are getting more tech-dependent, but how fast do you think the African government can align policies to meet expectations?
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Photo by Forbes
