“It's almost impossible for African government workers to work remotely.” – Alfred Opare Saforo

Alfred delves into the nuances of job tech, discussing its definition, its potential for market transformation, and its significance for governments and individuals alike.

Defining Job Tech

Alfred succinctly defines job tech as platforms like Andela and Jobberman, that facilitate job seekers in finding opportunities that might have remained hidden in the traditional job market. Job tech leverages tools such as artificial intelligence and data to enhance labour mobility and productivity. The accessibility of the Internet plays a pivotal role, opening up opportunities for a broader spectrum of individuals who may have previously been excluded from the job market.

Driving Transformation in the Job Market

The global pandemic dramatically shifted work dynamics, propelling remote work into the spotlight. Alfred notes that the pandemic-induced remote work experiment showcased that productivity can thrive in remote settings. He observes that remote work has long been a reality in the gig economy, particularly in fields like software development, engineering, and design. The pandemic merely accelerated a transformation that was already on the horizon.

One of the most intriguing insights Alfred shares is the remarkable growth of the freelance economy. He cites that the freelance economy, currently valued at around 3.8 billion, is projected to reach a staggering 7 billion by 2027. A noteworthy detail is that 10% of this burgeoning market is concentrated in Africa. This growth aligns with the continent's increased access to the Internet and data, contributing to the rise of remote work and freelancing. As data costs gradually decrease, a significant portion of Africa's workforce is finding solace in remote work, freeing them from the congestion and stress of daily commutes.

Government and Remote Work

For Alfred, there’s a glaring gap when it comes to government workers' ability to work remotely. He states that it's nearly impossible for African government workers to embrace remote work due to various constraints.

Want to know why this is the case? Tune in here on Spotify to listen to the full conversation.

Elevating Skilled Workers

Job tech platforms is a means to evaluate skills more effectively. These platforms can verify an individual's capabilities beyond what is claimed on their CVs. This approach can significantly enhance recruitment processes by ensuring that candidates possess the skills they claim. For instance, a scoring system that involves skill tests could identify truly skilled candidates and bridge the gap between qualifications and capabilities. “…you're not just going to have people who have certificates and can't, for example, code… I’ve met a lot of people who have their first degrees in IT and they can't write a line of code, right? So imagine having a scoring system where we are taking our government workers through a skills test for everything that they put on their CV.”

The future of Job tech?

Job tech has the power to level the playing field and usher in a new era of labour mobility and productivity. The role of job tech is not just about finding jobs; it's about redefining how jobs are accessed, how skills are validated, and how labour markets evolve. Alfred's insights underscore the transformative potential of job tech, offering a glimpse into a future where inclusive employment, enhanced productivity, and dynamic workforce mobility become the norm. Tune in here on Spotify to listen to the full conversation. Feel free to listen to our other episodes. You will be glad you did.