Skills proving to be an essential driver of foreign direct investments

Countries on either side of the equator compete intensely for foreign direct investment (FDI). It brings much-needed capital for their growth and development, including technology transfer and skills. It is also a vote of confidence for the host country. While multinational companies are always on the lookout for the next growth market, their decision to invest is driven by a myriad of interests and strategic reasons, some more important than others.

According to Investment Monitor, availability and quality of labour are arguably even more important than cost. Some MNCs invest abroad as they require higher-skilled labour, especially in the pharmaceuticals, electronics, and telecommunications industries. When associated with low-cost, higher-skilled labour makes certain countries particularly attractive to MNCs in specific sectors. The quality of labour is fast becoming one of the most critical drivers of FDI, if not the most.

Data collected from the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2020 and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2019 show that countries with higher-skilled and better-educated workforces tend to attract more greenfield FDI projects.

At the recently concluded Africa Summit in London, where PMI was joined on the panel by Development Partners International, Diageo, and Summa, conversations swirled around the importance of project management skills. Many commentators on the day were of the opinion that entering a foreign market required more than just a business plan and deep pockets. It involved a strategic process that guides project execution within scope, allocated budgets, and on time, an ideal brief for a project manager.

The global economy needs 25 million new project professionals by 2030 due to economic growth and development, an increase in the number of jobs requiring project management-oriented skills, and retirement rates. As a result, to close this talent gap, 2.3 million project managers and change makers will be needed to fill these roles every year to keep up with the demand. In sub-Saharan Africa, the market for project management-oriented employment is expected to grow by 40 percent, the biggest in the world.

FDI must not solely drive a country’s intent to develop these skills. Domestically, the nature of work has rapidly changed during the last decade due to emerging technologies and disruptive forces, such as 4IR, AI, and automation. Moreover, the skills reset are due in no small part to the pandemic.

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Employers cannot solve the skills gap issue alone; they need support from educators to build talent pools with skills relevant to today’s business needs. Studies have highlighted mismatches between the skills African students obtain and those required by employers. Governments and youth-serving NGOs have attempted to address this through skills development programs, including entrepreneurship training. Still, the assumption that every African youth without a job will be inclined to be an entrepreneur is hardly inclusive.

Despite earning monikers like “last frontier of growth,” Africa is not without its challenges. The African Development Bank reports that while 10-12 million youth enter the workforce every year in Africa, only 3 million formal jobs are created annually.

The answer may be to focus more on skills-based hiring, which emphasises the specific skills needed for a position rather than educational credentials or prior experience.

Skills-based hiring can help ensure you fill open positions with the right talent—whether that person comes from outside the organisation or your workforce. It can expand your talent pool and help level the playing field by eliminating some of the unconscious biases that can creep into the hiring process.

This approach is ideal for SSA, where many cannot afford to put themselves through universities. You can only start where you can start and from where you are now. If you’re currently employed, that is the place to begin with the skills development opportunities available. If you are unemployed, there are several free resources online, like KickOff, for you to test your aptitude for project management.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was it built by one person. I am equally sure it had project managers to ensure it was delivered within scope, budget, and on time.

Asamani is the managing director, sub-Saharan Africa, Project Management Institute