Creating a readily employable workforce
An engagement session to empower youths for employment was held in Melrose Arch.
In the ever-changing world of work, the youth need to be equipped with the necessary skills to access employment opportunities.
At a media engagement session held in Melrose Arch on May 19, an institute led the discussion around equipping youths for the world of work. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a 51-year-old non-profit professional association and global advocacy group for the project management profession.
George Asamani, PMI’s business development leader for Africa said that Africa was unique in that 70% of its population is under the age of 30. “That is what we call the youth advantage,” he said.
He added that the continent graduates around 11 million young people from schools each year. “That means if the youth are supported, upskilled, directed really well, then in the next few years Africa will literally be the continent that leads the world. In the next few years, we will have a massive workforce which not only drives the economy of Africa but the economies of other continents too.”
Having successfully partnered with several universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, PMI is currently holding discussions with South African tertiary institutions to make project management courses available to them.
“PMI has recognised that linkages are required between education and employability so that young, skilled Africans are able to deploy their skills in formal employment where available or create their own opportunities through effective entrepreneurship. As the future of work becomes more projectised, project-based skills will become essential to helping changemakers turn ideas into reality and overcome complex challenges.”
He said one of the challenges was the fact that a larger population of the youth were not in tertiary institutions, therefore PMI was seeking to partner with non-profit organisations to reach those youths.
“Today, beyond education, where we are already doing a lot of work, we also need to find ways to work with government and the private sector to reach and empower a much broader segment of young Africans. All of us have a role to play in creating a more confident and readily employable workforce,” concluded Asamani.
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