Africa's young population and the skills opportunity
Africa has the youngest population of any continent, and a large share of the world's young people in the coming decades will be African.
A demographic opportunity
A young, growing workforce can power economic growth, if young people have skills that match the jobs being created.
The skills gap
Employers across Africa report difficulty finding workers with technical and digital skills. Many young people leave school without practical experience in science and technology.
What skills matter
- science and mathematics foundations;
- digital skills and coding;
- technical skills in energy, construction and manufacturing;
- problem solving and teamwork;
- entrepreneurship.
Starting in school
Skills begin long before university. Learners who get hands-on science and technology experience in school are more likely to pursue STEM paths.
Scale matters
With so many learners, solutions must work at scale. Digital tools that run in any browser can reach far more learners than new buildings alone.
The role of families and communities
Parents, mentors and communities can encourage young people to explore STEM and believe they can succeed.