With the support of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping Africa’s economic and employment landscape. From innovation clusters and outsourcing hubs to informal entrepreneurship, AI presents both opportunities and risks for young people. To better understand how AI can support inclusive, resilient livelihoods, a series of studies supported by the Mastercard Foundation explores the intersection of AI, skills, and youth employment across the continent.
- Africa’s BPO and IT-enabled services sector employs over one million young people, but up to 40% of tasks—particularly those in junior and women-dominated roles—are at risk of automation by 2030. This study recommends targeted upskilling, ethical AI integration, and investment in rural outsourcing to ensure continued job growth and inclusion.
- AI innovation clusters are becoming vital engines of youth employment. This research explores how these ecosystems—driven by collaboration between startups, universities, investors, and grassroots communities—can be strengthened to scale job creation and inclusive AI development.
- A series of sector-specific AI scans that map the current and future impact of AI on work and skills. It assesses how AI is changing tasks, job roles, and value chains across industries, providing evidence to inform future workforce strategies and guide responsible AI adoption at scale.
- An AI skills study that explores inclusive, gender and region-sensitive skills strategies to ensure all youth can meaningfully engage in the digital economy. The study expands the definition of AI skills to include non-technical users—such as farmers, informal entrepreneurs, and BPO workers—who interact with AI tools in everyday work.
