Youth employment: practical steps to land work or start a business

Looking for work or thinking of starting a small business? Youth employment is tough across many African countries, but there are clear moves you can make today to improve your chances.

First, be honest about what you can do right now. Employers want reliable people who can solve simple problems fast. That beats a long list of skills you only half know.

Where to find jobs and opportunities

Start local. Check municipal job boards, community centers, and youth employment programs run by governments or NGOs. Many towns have training centers with employer contacts.

Use online job sites that are active in Africa: LinkedIn, BrighterMonday, Jobberman, Fuzu, and local Facebook groups. Set up alerts and apply to new listings within 48 hours.

Don’t ignore informal sectors. Retail, construction, small manufacturing, and agriculture hire young workers fast. Offer a trial day to show you can work — that often beats waiting for a formal vacancy.

Consider apprenticeships and internships. They may pay little at first, but they build real experience and references. Ask small businesses if you can start as an apprentice for one or two months.

How to boost your chances right now

Focus on one or two in-demand skills and get good at them. Digital skills (social media, basic web tools), hospitality, basic plumbing, electrical work, and tailoring are widely needed. Short online courses from Coursera, Google Career Certificates, or free resources can help you gain skills quickly.

Make a simple CV that highlights work you actually did — even unpaid or school projects. Use clear headings: Contact, Experience, Skills, Education. Keep it to one page.

Practice a short pitch you can say in 30 seconds. Who are you? What can you do? What do you want? Use that in interviews and when talking to employers in markets or events.

Network with purpose. Talk to people at community events, church groups, and training centers. Ask for introductions to managers. People hire those they trust.

Think small business? Start lean. Test your idea with a few customers before spending money. Use mobile money and social media to sell. Microfinance groups and youth entrepreneur programs can help with small loans and training.

Consider freelancing for flexible work. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr let you sell skills worldwide — writing, graphic design, data entry. Start with low prices, collect reviews, then raise your rates.

Keep learning. Employers notice people who update their skills. Take short courses, earn certificates, and add them to your CV and LinkedIn profile.

Finally, protect your health and time. Reliable attendance and a steady attitude matter more than a perfect skill set. Show up early, finish tasks, and ask for feedback.

You don’t need a perfect plan to get started. Pick one skill, one platform to search for jobs, and one person to ask for help this week. Small steps add up fast.