Towards Digital Transformation …. Digital Economy Skills in MENA
1st Century and Technological Skills
COVID-19
pandemic imposed digital transformation on many aspects of life, particularly
financial and economic institutions. Accelerating digital transformation maybe
one of the bright sides of the pandemic. However, it wasn’t accompanied by the
proper preparation of the workforce and young people. There are basic skills
that young people need to learn away from university and school to help them
catch jobs in the new digital economy.
The global
online learning platform, Coursera, revealed its 2021 Global Skills Report.
This year’s study draws on performance data since the pandemic’s onset from
over 77 million learners on Coursera to benchmark business, technology, and
data skills proficiency for over 100 countries. For the first time, the Global
Skills Report also reveals the top skills needed for high-demand entry-level
jobs, including the learning hours required to develop them.
The 2021 Global
Skills Report devoted a full section to the MENA Region which revealed the most
outstanding skills and areas that characterized States and the challenges that
they faced.
Technology
In the
Technology Sector, the trending skills among the region were; Theoretical
Computer Science, C Programming, Programming Principles, Design and Product,
Adobe Photoshop, Computational Thinking, Graphic Design, Web Development,
JavaScript, and Microarchitecture
MENA
demonstrates particular strength in Security Engineering, with nearly all
countries ranking in the top half globally. Many governments in the region have
made cybersecurity a high priority, with new initiatives and organizations such
as Saudi Arabia’s National Cyber Security Authority, Egypt’s High Council for
Cybersecurity, the UAE’s National Electronic Security Agency, and Oman’s Arab
Region Cybersecurity Centre.
Tunisia is the
top performer in Northern Africa. Major innovation enabling regulatory
improvements have also taken place in Tunisia in the past few years. In 2018,
the government passed the Startup Act, a legal framework designed to spur
innovation demand and foster entrepreneurship with a broader vision to develop
the country into a “Startup Nation” at the crossroads of the Mediterranean,
MENA, and sub-Saharan Africa. To date, close to 400 ventures have received the Startup
Label across a wide range of industries and it’s now one of the top countries
in the region in venture capital investments.133
Data Science
For Data
Science, Data Visualization may be an under-tapped strength for the region,
particularly in Northern Africa. Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria are all globally
competitive in these skills. The global data visualization market was valued at
$2.99 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $5.17 billion by 2026.
Data Science
and Statistical Programming are generally lagging for the region. These skills
are associated with some of the fastest-growing jobs in the region between 2018
and 2022—data scientists and data analysts. A lack of university programs in
these specialties, outdated curricula, and talent attraction challenges have
resulted in gaps for these talent pools.
The TRENDING
SKILLS among the region were; Python Programming, Statistical Machine Learning,
Machine Learning, Probability & Statistics, Machine Learning Algorithms,
Data Management, Applied Machine Learning, Econometrics, Deep Learning, and
SQL.
Time needed for Entry-level Jobs
Based
on the performance data of millions of learners on Coursera globally, the
Global Skills Report also reveals the skills and time required to prepare for
high-demand entry-level roles:
Recent graduates and mid-career changers can develop entry-level,
digital job skills in as little as 35 to 70 hours (or 1-2 months with 10
learning hours per week). On the other hand, someone with no degree or
technology experience can be job-ready in 80 to 240 hours (or 2-6 months with
10 learning hours per week).
Learners must invest in both soft and technical skills to stay
job-relevant in a rapidly evolving labor market. For example, an
entry-level cloud computing role like a Computer Support Specialist requires
learning both soft skills like problem solving and organizational development,
and technical skills such as security engineering and computer networking.
Similarly, entry-level marketing roles require data analysis software and
digital marketing skills in addition to soft skills like strategy, creativity,
and communication.
The most transferable skills across all future jobs are in human
skills like problem solving and communication, computer literacy, and career
management. Foundational skills like business communication and digital
literacy enable workers to participate in increasingly tech-heavy and global
work environments. As people change jobs more frequently, job search and career
planning skills will be critical to role transitions and sustaining
employment.
To
learn more about your country rankings on the Global skills report, you check
the report HERE.
References
https://blog.coursera.org/announcing-the-coursera-global-skills-report-2021/
https://www.coursera.org/global-skills-report
