Youth and ICT Skills in African Labour Markets Kwabia Boateng UN Economic Commission for Africa Presented at the Regional Meeting on Youth Development in Africa June 27-29, 2006 UNCC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective of paper To present observed changes in ICT skills requirements in the job marketTo present observed changes in ICT skills requirements in the job market To highlight Ghana’s ICT4AD Policy and the prospects for developing youth needs in the ICT sectorTo highlight Ghana’s ICT4AD Policy and the prospects for developing youth needs in the ICT sector

Recent LM Developments Major factors:Major factors: –Structural and policy reforms –Globalisation –Technological, notably ICT, revolution ImpactsImpacts –Dwindling formal (and public) sector employment –Increasing demand for high skills –Greater competition for jobs, etc

Survey of Skill Demand Patterns in Ghana Boateng (data from )Boateng (data from ) Advertised vacanciesAdvertised vacancies

Some demographic statistics 60% of Ghana’s pop is under 25 years60% of Ghana’s pop is under 25 years About 40% of those below 6 years are illiterateAbout 40% of those below 6 years are illiterate 50% of junior HS leavers fail to progress to senior HS50% of junior HS leavers fail to progress to senior HS Less than 10% of SHS progress to tertiary levelLess than 10% of SHS progress to tertiary level Access to ICT less than 2 hours per semester for tertiary studentsAccess to ICT less than 2 hours per semester for tertiary students Ghana’s Networked Readiness Index ranking 74/102 with score=3.06, compared with US=5.50, S.Africa=3.72, Nigeria=2.92Ghana’s Networked Readiness Index ranking 74/102 with score=3.06, compared with US=5.50, S.Africa=3.72, Nigeria=2.92

Youth employment and ICT skills in Ghana % Youth Jobs requiring ICT skills % Youth Jobs requiring ICT skills IT Comm

Other observations Increasing % of jobs require IT skills (61% in 2002)Increasing % of jobs require IT skills (61% in 2002) Increasing % of jobs require Comm skills (33% in 2002)Increasing % of jobs require Comm skills (33% in 2002) Youth jobs have higher ICT requirements than overall populationYouth jobs have higher ICT requirements than overall population ICT demand differ (high in NGO/inter org; low in forestry, agric.; high in management, professional, secretarial jobs and low in technical jobsICT demand differ (high in NGO/inter org; low in forestry, agric.; high in management, professional, secretarial jobs and low in technical jobs

Issues emerging from findings Equal opportunity for employment, where ICT infrastructure is unevenly distributedEqual opportunity for employment, where ICT infrastructure is unevenly distributed –Hence infrastructure must expand as part of broadening social development EmploymentEmployment –Higher employer search cost –Higher on-the-job training –Low skill jobs

National Initiatives in ICT ICT4AD adopted in 2004ICT4AD adopted in 2004 Installation of computers in educational (tertiary, secondary) insts.Installation of computers in educational (tertiary, secondary) insts. Greater part of effort by private institutions, bilateral agencies, World BankGreater part of effort by private institutions, bilateral agencies, World Bank

ICT4AD in Ghana To make Ghana IKE (information & knowledge-based economy)To make Ghana IKE (information & knowledge-based economy) One of the 11 key strategies is to modernise the entire educational system using ICTOne of the 11 key strategies is to modernise the entire educational system using ICT 14 pillars of the policy- one is deployment of ICTs in education14 pillars of the policy- one is deployment of ICTs in education –Basic training in all schools/colleges for all students, including physically challenged –Linkage with business

Employment Opportunities in ICT4AD Deployment of ICT in education, public service, business, communityDeployment of ICT in education, public service, business, community ICT trainersICT trainers ICT infrastructure developmentICT infrastructure development IT industry and servicesIT industry and services Productivity & income growthProductivity & income growth

Conclusions and Recommendations Employment for youth requires ICTEmployment for youth requires ICT –Physical and training infrastructure required and must be coordinated in educational institutions –Training in ICT entrepreneurship for youth one key –Member states to promote African youth IS network

Thank you