Do you know the 100 most asked questions on Google as of 2021? According to Keyword Tool, these questions include; What is my IP address? What to watch? How to screenshot on mac? The common factor is that they are all technology-related questions that seek answers about tech advice, entertainment or hacks.
These questions inform us about cultural changes and how technology is shaping how we live, work, teach and learn.
There is a digital revolution going on. COVID19 disrupted our economy in ways that changed the job landscape permanently. For example, the pandemic introduced remote working to a big percentage of the world. In fact, in different African countries, online transactions only took off during the lockdown. Interestingly, new jobs were created, while others perished for good.
According to LinkedIn’s analysis of work trends, the most highly demanded jobs for 2021 are remote jobs, and it is predicted that within five years, there will be 150 million new technology jobs. Additionally, according to the World Economic Forum, Software Development, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Graphic Design are among the top 10 most in-demand jobs for 2021.
Furthermore, areas such as HealthTech and EdTech have seen an enormous advancement opening up a range of new opportunities since jobs that were previously carried out in person were shifting to digital.
No doubt, these changes confirm that the future of work will be largely digital. Not only that, getting a job will largely depend on one’s digital capabilities – how well they understand the digital landscape.
How can we, therefore, embrace the change into the digital era?
As Socrates said, “the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” The most effective means of transition is adaptation. Due to the current trends, this implies that in addition to the technical skills such as STEM, it is important to add the knowledge of online communication tools in order to communicate with people. Digital skills are also needed to conduct online research, connect with communities of like-minded professionals, or even get hired.
Learning digital skills doesn’t mean necessarily switching careers but it means having them as your arsenal because you will need them to survive in this digital, connected world.
Lastly, because social media made information accessible to all, learning anything has never been easier! Available learning plans online will do a tremendous job in increasing the value of the people in already existing jobs. Furthermore, soft skills such as effective communication, teamwork, will play a great role in setting talent apart in the future of work.
Embracing change in this era is very critical. We believe that by adapting to change, Africa’s younger generation will be well equipped to achieve the desired social-economic transformation. The fact that technology is disrupting how we live is an opportunity to advance African development through leveraging technology.
AIMS is preparing brilliant young Africans with the necessary skills to prepare Africa for the coming revolution through our different programs and initiatives.