Opportunity Issue 104

SKILLS
in the number of jobs requiring project management-oriented
skills and retirement rates. As a result, to close this talent gap,
2.3-million project managers and changemakers will be needed
to fill these roles every year to keep up with the demand. In Sub-
Saharan Africa, the market for project management-oriented
employment is expected to grow by 40%, the biggest such
growth in the world.
_________________
Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor
was it built by one person. I am
equally sure it had project managers
to ensure it was delivered within
scope, budget and on time.
________________
Skills-based hiring
Domestically, the nature of work has rapidly changed during the
last decade due to emerging technologies and disruptive forces
such as 4IR, AI and automation. Moreover, the skills reset is due
in no small part to the pandemic.
Employers cannot solve the skills gap issue alone; they need
support from educators to build talent pools with skills relevant
to today’s business needs. Studies have highlighted mismatches
between the skills African students obtain and those required
by employers. Governments and youth-serving NGOs have
attempted to address this through skills development
programmes, including entrepreneurship training. Still, the
assumption that every African youth without a job will be
inclined to be an entrepreneur is hardly inclusive.
Despite earning monikers like “last frontier of growth”, Africa
is not without its challenges. The African Development Bank
reports that while 10- to 12-million young people enter the
workforce every year in Africa, only three-million formal jobs
are created annually.
Every project needs a manager. PMI reports that the global economy needs 25-million new project
professionals by 2030. Credit: SANRAL
The answer may be to focus more on skills-based hiring, which
emphasises the specific skills needed for a position rather than
educational credentials or prior experience.
Skills-based hiring can help ensure you fill open positions with
the right talent – whether that person comes from outside the
organisation or your workforce. It can expand your talent pool and
help level the playing field by eliminating some of the unconscious
biases that can creep into the hiring process.
This approach is ideal for Sub-Saharan Africa, where many
people cannot afford to put themselves through universities. You
can only start where you can start and from where you are now.
If you’re currently employed, that is the place to begin with the
skills development opportunities available. If you are unemployed,
there are several free resources online, like KickOff, for you to test
your aptitude for project management.
Rome wasn’t built in a day,
nor was it built by one person.
I am equally sure it had
project managers to ensure
it was delivered within scope,
budget and on time.
About PMI
Project Management Institute (PMI) is the leading professional association for project management and the authority for
a growing global community of millions of project professionals and individuals who use project management skills. PMI
empowers people to make ideas a reality. Through global advocacy, networking, collaboration, research and education,
PMI prepares organisations and individuals to work smarter so they can drive success in a world of change. Building on
a proud legacy dating to 1969, PMI is a not-for-profit organisation working in nearly every country around the world to
advance careers, strengthen organisational success, and enable project professionals and changemakers with new skills
and ways of working to maximise their impact. PMI offerings include globally-recognised standards, certifications, online
courses, thought leadership, tools, digital publications and communities.
George Asamani, MD, Sub-Saharan Africa, PMI
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