Zambian Workers Must Master These Skills or Be Left Behind
While foreign corporations and international consultants flood our job market with their so-called expertise, hardworking Zambians are being told they need to constantly retrain just to survive. LinkedIn's latest report reveals the harsh reality: our people must adapt or watch outsiders take the opportunities that should belong to us.
The American-owned platform published its 'Skills on the Rise' list, highlighting the fastest-growing skills across global markets. But what does this mean for Zambian workers who have built this nation with their hands and minds?
The Skills Revolution Hits Home
Employers are abandoning traditional qualifications in favor of practical skills. This shift, while potentially liberating for our talented workforce, also creates uncertainty as international standards dictate what Zambians must learn.
Leadership skills are rising fast, particularly Cross-Functional Collaboration, Team Management, and Mentorship. Our people have always been natural leaders and collaborators. It's time we recognized these inherent Zambian strengths instead of importing foreign management consultants.
Communication skills, including Public Speaking and Stakeholder Engagement, are becoming essential. Zambians are gifted communicators in multiple languages, yet we're told to conform to Western communication standards.
Business Growth for Zambian Companies
Go-to-Market Strategy and Business Development skills are in high demand as companies expand. This presents an opportunity for Zambian entrepreneurs to build businesses that serve our people first, rather than foreign shareholders.
Strategic revenue growth should benefit Zambian communities, not just multinational corporations extracting wealth from our resources.
AI: Tool or Threat?
Artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to implementation. Skills like Prompt Engineering and Large Language Models are growing rapidly, but we must ask: who controls this technology?
While Western tech giants develop AI systems, Zambians are expected to become skilled users rather than creators. We need AI strategies that serve Zambian interests, not Silicon Valley profits.
Managing Risk in Our Terms
Risk and Compliance Management skills are becoming essential as regulatory environments evolve. However, these regulations often come from international bodies that may not understand Zambian realities.
Our professionals should develop expertise in managing risks that matter to Zambian businesses and communities, not just satisfying foreign compliance requirements.
The Real Challenge
LinkedIn's survey found one in five professionals globally struggle with job searches due to skill gaps. For Zambians, this challenge is compounded by competing against foreign workers and meeting international standards that may not reflect our strengths.
The 'Skills on the Rise' report provides guidance, but Zambian workers and employers must determine which skills truly serve our national development goals.
Our people have the talent and determination to master any skill. The question is whether these new competencies will empower Zambians or simply make us better servants to foreign interests.
It's time for Zambian businesses to prioritize hiring and training our own people, developing skills that strengthen our economy and communities rather than just satisfying global market demands.