Officials discuss plans to stabilize labor force across Africa

Officials from the African Union Commission's Department of Human Sources, Sciences and Technology met Monday to review a report on the portability of job skills.

The group was particularly interested in combing through the report to look for imbalances in skills training and preparation that could be remedied by a standardized framework of skills training across regions or even the entire African continent.

"Resolving the problem of skills shortages will require particular focus on innovation, as well as the development of talent and entrepreneurship to enable youth benefit from and contribute to opportunities that would offer decent incomes and prosperity,"  Head of Education and acting Head of the Youth Beatrice Njenga said.

Njenga called on governments and education officials to develop a Continental Qualifications Framework that would be calibrated to meet the needs of industries such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development.

Officials said a standardized, coordinated training system designed along these lines would make African workers in any participating country more attractive applicants on the continent and abroad and would allow qualified workers from one country to fill job openings in other countries, leveling imbalances between the supply of skilled workers and demand for labor.