How Africa's workforce could develop in an evolving world

As Africa prepares its workforce for being a central player in the Industry 4.0 paradigm, Big Four accounting and advisory firm PwC has put forth four possible scenarios for the development of the workforce over the next decade. Each scenario is conditional to prioritisation of different factors.

PwC’s analysis comes against the backdrop of the much reiterated knowledge that conditions in Africa are conducive to significant economic growth in decades to come. By 2030, more than half of the world’s under-25 population will be in Africa, where this youth will constitute 60% of the workforce.

The question remains of how to nurture this future workforce so as to reach its tremendous economic potential. PwC’s recommendation, much like several other organisations, has been to focus on developing tech-based skills that are of increasing economic value in the global scenario.

“Although Africa will experience significant technological disruption, this also presents an opportunity for the continent to drive inclusion and economic growth, through the utilization of future-ready strategies for job creation,” explained Barry Vorster, Director of People & Organisation at PwC.

In the context of a changing scenario, PwC has laid down four alternative scenarios for the future of work, not only in Africa, but across the globe. The first, ‘The Yellow World’, is one where humans come first and lie at the heart of an organisation. The second, or ‘The Red World’ is where innovation rules.

The third alternative, or ‘The Green World,’ is one in which companies care. The Blue World, meanwhile, is one where corporations rule the roost. “Megatrends” such as artificial intelligence, automation and other changes to the workforce, according to PwC, will determine the direction in which the world goes.

“The employees of the future are diverse in their profiles and organisations need to be agile in order to attract and retain this new workforce. Companies that innovatively rethink their organisational design, in a digitally-enabled world, will have a competitive advantage,” said Luizet Ruzow, Strategy& Partner in South Africa.