Zambia is testing AI to help young people find careers that match their skills

Finding a job is not just about having a qualification. Young people also need to know which skills employers are looking for, what opportunities are available and whether they need additional training to qualify for a position. In Zambia, a new pilot is using artificial intelligence (AI) to help people make career choices and connect their skills with employment opportunities. The initiative comes as businesses continue to face the challenge of finding workers with the right skills while many young people struggle to find work.

For small and medium-sized businesses, the idea is worth watching. These companies often need people who can do the job from the start, but they may not have dedicated human resources teams or large budgets for recruitment and training. The question is whether AI-powered career guidance can help bring employers and job seekers closer together.

Helping young people understand their options

Choosing a career can be difficult when a person does not have a clear picture of the jobs available or the skills needed to get hired. A young person may complete a course without knowing whether businesses are looking for those skills. Another may have the ability to work in a particular field but lack information about the training or experience required to enter it. An AI career guidance platform could help users explore different career paths, understand the skills associated with particular jobs and identify areas where they may need further training.

Instead of relying only on general career advice, users could receive recommendations based on their interests, abilities and the information available about employment opportunities. However, the quality of that advice matters. If the platform relies on outdated information or does not reflect what employers are looking for, it could direct people towards careers with limited opportunities. The value of the Zambian pilot will depend partly on how well its recommendations reflect the needs of the local job market.

Why small businesses could benefit

Recruitment can take up a lot of time for a small business owner. A company looking for a technician, bookkeeper, sales representative or warehouse worker may receive applications from people whose qualifications do not match the requirements of the job. The owner then has to spend time reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and deciding who needs additional training. For a business with a small team, this process can take attention away from serving customers and running daily operations.

Better career guidance could help job seekers understand what employers expect before they apply. If candidates have a clearer understanding of the skills required, businesses may receive applications from people who are better prepared for the work. It could also help employers identify skills gaps when planning recruitment. If a business repeatedly struggles to find people with a particular skill, that information could help guide training decisions.

These are potential benefits, though. There is not yet enough information in the available announcement to establish whether Zambia's pilot has reduced recruitment costs or improved hiring outcomes.

The gap between qualifications and workplace skills

One of the difficulties facing employers is finding people who can apply what they have learnt in a classroom to the demands of a job. A candidate may hold a qualification but still need practical experience. A small manufacturer, for example, may need a worker who can operate specific equipment, follow safety procedures and meet production targets. A retailer may be looking for someone who can manage stock, handle customer complaints and use a point of sale system.

Career guidance could help people understand these expectations before they enter the job market. It could also point users towards training that addresses specific gaps, rather than encouraging them to collect qualifications without a clear idea of how those qualifications translate into employment. For this to work, the platform needs information from employers about the jobs they are trying to fill and the skills those positions require. Without that input, its recommendations risk reflecting broad career trends rather than the needs of individual businesses.

AI cannot fix every hiring problem

Even if career guidance improves, businesses will still face other challenges when recruiting. Some struggle to offer salaries that compete with larger employers. Others operate outside major cities, where it can be harder to attract experienced workers. In some cases, the problem is not a shortage of applicants but a lack of candidates with the required experience. Access to technology is another consideration. 

Young people without reliable internet access, suitable devices or confidence using digital tools may find it difficult to benefit from an online platform. There is also the question of how the system handles personal information and makes recommendations. If an AI tool gives inaccurate advice or overlooks suitable career options, users need a way to question its recommendations and access support from a person. The platform should help people make informed choices, not determine their futures for them.

How will Zambia measure the results?

The number of people using the platform will show whether it attracts interest, but it will not tell the whole story. More useful measures would include how many users go on to find employment, whether employers receive better-matched applications and whether people complete training that helps them qualify for available jobs. 

It would also be important to find out whether small businesses are involved in the pilot and whether their feedback influences the platform's recommendations. The available announcement does not provide early results or establish how the pilot will be evaluated. Those details will be important in determining whether the initiative can make a practical difference to job seekers and employers.

What it could mean for African businesses

Zambia's pilot raises a question that extends beyond one country: can AI help businesses communicate their skills needs more clearly and help job seekers prepare for the work available? For SMEs, a useful career-guidance system could reduce some of the uncertainty around recruitment. For young people, it could offer a clearer view of which skills to develop and where to look for opportunities. 

But the technology will only be as useful as the information it receives and the employment opportunities available to its users. The real measure of success will be whether more people find suitable work and whether employers can fill vacancies with candidates who have the skills their businesses need.