Telecommunications group MTN has launched an AI-enabled job board feature on the MTN Skills Academy as the company advances its commitment to digital and economic inclusion.

The platform integrates learning, job discovery and application tracking, distinguishing itself from conventional job-search platforms focused primarily on vacancy listings by providing learners with access to job opportunities, high-demand courses and skills guidance on one platform.

Further, the job board helps learners understand how their current skills align with employers’ requirements and identify courses that can help address specific gaps.

“Across Africa, many are investing in their futures through learning and self-development, while employers are seeking the capabilities needed in an increasingly digital economy,” says MTN Group sustainability and shared value executive Marina Madale.

“Digital and financial inclusion becomes more economically meaningful when it helps people participate in the economy. Strengthening the path from skills to work requires action across business, government and education.”

For MTN, the job board provides further expression of the company’s commitment to digital and economic inclusion by connecting learning, skills and opportunity.

More than 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25; however, many young people continue to face barriers to employment as demand for digital and technology skills grows.

According to estimates by the International Finance Corporation, more than 230-million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa would require digital skills by 2030.

“The projection signals how extensively digital capabilities are expected to shape the future of work across the region and reinforces the need to connect training more closely with labour-market demand.”

Available in 11 MTN markets in which the Skills Academy operates, the job board features vacancies from employers across Africa and recommends relevant roles based on each learner’s skills, location and career goals.

Users can browse and filter opportunities, review job requirements, save vacancies and track their progress through the application, interview and offer stages.

Where further development may strengthen their suitability for a role, the platform recommends relevant free courses available through the MTN Skills Academy.

The MTN Skills Academy was launched in 2022 to help youth develop future-ready capabilities in digital literacy, coding, data analytics, AI, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship and other high-demand disciplines.

“The platform has already demonstrated significant reach and impact, recording nearly 526 000 enrolments, 192 000 course completions and 1 122 specialisations completed across 11 markets,” Madale points out.