Abstract
Employment remains one of the critical challenges for Africa. It is estimated that by 2030, there will be an influx of about 300 million new working-age population. By 2034, labour market in Africa might surpass China’s and India’s. Thus, there is need for comprehensive measures by all stakeholders to enable the upcoming labour force integrate into the labour market. The main purpose of this survey was to examine market and employment situation, future economic and employment tendencies and training needs in the African countries of Salesian TVET presence. The study adopted the survey research design. This method made use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample consisted of various market stakeholders, namely companies, personnel from the government, knowledgeable persons on community and public level, craft unions and associations, upper and middle-class consumers, graduates of Don Bosco TVET centers and NGOs. The key data collection instrument used was questionnaire. Quantitative data collected using questionnaire method was processed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). On the other hand, qualitative data from open ended items was analyzed using content analysis approach and reported in narrative form. On employment situation, the study found that 76.5% of the graduates worked in the same area for which they had been trained. 61.3% of the “older” graduates, (those who graduated before 2012) had a permanent contract. Half of the graduates (50.7%) received an income that was quite above the minimum wage and another 25% earned slightly above the minimum wage. The findings on future market tendencies for specific areas, services, trades and professional profiles pointed towards four sectors, namely agriculture, hotel and tourism, ICT, and environment and green jobs as the most promising fields. Literature review further revealed that most of the newly created urban jobs are generated in the informal sector. Thus, re-aligning training according to future economic and employment tendencies should be the focus of Don Bosco Centres at continental level. With regards to opinion on future market demand on professional services in the field of environment and green jobs, drinking water, waste management (solid and liquid) and solar energy featured as the most relevant ones. In the area of green jobs slightly more than a third (36%) of the respondents were positive that there could be an increase in the demand for solar/voltaic electricians. Based on the key findings, there is a need for Don Bosco Centres to invest in Agricultural activities such as vegetable gardening, breeding, fish farming and horticulture as this appeared quite dominantly in the outcome about economic boosting areas and future tendencies. The other field of investment could be hotel and tourism, waste management (solid and liquid), solar energy and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The study further recommends Don Bosco Centres to increase their capacities for preparing graduates for self-employment. The Salesian TVET should think about strategies on how to support this. Soft and Technical (as opposed to theoretical) skills have a big importance for both wage employment and self-employment. More stress should be put on entrepreneurial training to enhance self-employment among graduates from Don Bosco Centres.
Review by: Anthony M. Wanjohi
Suggested Citation (APA)
DBTA (2019). Labour Market Survey: Market and Employment Situation, Upcoming Economic and Employment Tendencies, and Future Training Needs in 25 African Countries. Nairobi: Don Bosco Tech Africa