The world is changing rapidly: it is no longer about the developed West and emerging East, but a new globalized world where we are all connected. It is a time of uncertainty, opportunity, and innovation. Africa is at the heart of it all. With some countries experiencing rapid economic growth rates, Africa has become one of the fastest-growing regions in the world for business development. On the other hand, traditional jobs are disappearing across sectors because of automation. The question becomes: What happens to those that do not have any training? What are the African Careers of the future in this rapidly evolving landscape?
Here we look at the top 10 African Careers of the future:
Table of Contents
Top 10 African Careers of the future
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Software developer:
The world is becoming a network of technology, and software developers are the architects. As companies develop their cloud-based systems to cut costs in hardware development, there will be an increased demand for programmers who can create programs that run on these virtual networks. The skills needed for a software developer include problem-solving, analytical thinking, and good communication skills. Educational requirements include a degree in computer science, software engineering, or information technology. A Master’s Degree is suitable for more advanced work.
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Team leader and supervisor:
Despite the automation of jobs, companies still need strong managers to lead teams. As organizations become flatter and less hierarchical to increase productivity with lower costs, demand for team leaders will increase. Skills required include excellent communication, negotiation, interpersonal skills, and working with people from different cultures across various sectors. Although educational requirements vary depending on the industry, a Bachelor’s Degree is usually required, while Master’s Degrees are in high demand for more advanced positions.
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Business developer and manager:
Africa has been experiencing an increase in entrepreneurship. Some of the most successful companies were set up by African entrepreneurs. As organizations become more entrepreneurial in their business models to reduce costs, there will be an increased demand for people who can identify markets that are yet to be penetrated and build new businesses from scratch through identifying opportunities within these markets. Educational requirements include a degree in business administration, entrepreneurship, marketing, or finance management.
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Infrastructure engineers and architects:
The world is seeing an increase in demand for better infrastructure to make it easier for people to engage with the systems that feed them information. Infrastructure has increased demand for civil engineers who can plan, design, and build new infrastructure and urban planners who can help rebuild cities to support this new infrastructure. Educational requirements include a degree in civil engineering or architecture.
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Mining engineers:
Africa is home to some of the largest mineral reserves on Earth, including gold, diamonds, and platinum, which are mined for export. As companies seek out more sources of minerals within Africa itself because of the decreased costs of operating within African borders, there will be an increased demand for mining engineers. These are skilled individuals who can handle equipment used in exploration and extraction and manage projects to ensure safety is at the forefront.
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Brand managers and marketers:
Marketing has become one of the most sought-after careers, with companies spending billions on advertising every year. Tapping into this market is a great way to build wealth. As companies become more innovative and creative with their brand management, there will be an increased demand for people who can identify new markets and understand what makes these markets tick in terms of needs and wants. Educational requirements include degrees in marketing or advertising, but experience working within the industry is also significant.
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Financial managers:
There has been an increase in the need for financial management as companies try to become more cost-effective. This situation is because many African countries have embraced market economics with a strong emphasis on privatization and liberalization, bringing about new challenges which require better resource allocation. They work with other managers such as the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operating officers (COOs), overseeing budgets and planning future operations. For example, Nigeria’s great challenge today is managing its oil resources, the largest oil producer in Africa. So, many companies are trying to find cost-saving methods, leading to an increase in demand for financial managers. Educational requirements include bachelor’s degrees, but master’s degree holders have a high chance of finding employment quickly due to their experience.
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Actuaries and risk managers:
Africa is a continent with high diversity in culture and geography, which has led to increased risk from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc. Companies are increasingly looking for people who can help them manage these risks by identifying where they could occur so that measures can be put in place to mitigate damage. Educational requirements include a degree in actuarial sciences, but again, the experience would be advantageous.
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Hotel managers and hospitality
The tourism industry is bound to grow exponentially over the next few years as African countries focus on infrastructure development. This growth will lead to increased demand for hotel managers who can manage these high-end hotels and ensure they operate at optimal efficiency while also making a profit. Educational requirements include a degree in hospitality management, but work experience is more important than education with regard to finding employment.
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Data scientist
There has been an increased demand for people to help companies analyze their data and identify patterns to improve business operations. This demand arises because there are many African countries with high levels of unemployment. Also, with the increased use of technology, people are looking for ways to improve their skills to gain employment. The skills needed in this include strong data analysis skills, creativity, and problem-solving—machine learning, data science, Python, R, Apache Spark, etc. Educational requirements include degrees in mathematics or statistics, but experience working with data is significant as well. Experience in a particular industry would also be advantageous.
Final Thoughts!
The world is changing, but this brings an opportunity to create a better future for Africa and the rest of the world with new emerging career paths. As companies develop their cloud-based systems, there will be an increased demand for programmers to create programs that run on these virtual networks. And as companies across sectors experience growth, there will be an increased demand for managers who can lead employees and teams in achieving business goals while supervising staff work schedules and performance reviews. Africa is at the heart of this change, with many countries experiencing rapid economic growth rates, making it one of the fastest-growing regions globally.
There exists an opportunity to develop infrastructure that can help Africa move forward in the 21st century. Then countries across continents will benefit from trading with each other and have access to African resources and international investors looking for opportunities in emerging markets (e.g., investing in financial institutions).
The continent has enormous potential, including a rapidly-growing tourism industry. For every new opportunity, there is an increased demand for creative problem solvers, people with business experience and excellent customer service skills who can adapt quickly to the ever-changing landscape. What African Careers of the future did we miss?