Sales role tops employers’ demand in Nigeria, others – Report

Ife Ogunfuwa

Sales role is the most in-demand jobs in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, a new study of the trends in the labour market by Ringier One Africa Media has shown.

The study, according to a statement from ROAM Africa on Monday, explored the effects of the pandemic on employment trends and the future of work across the continent

The company said the three reports provided other insights and analysis that would help employers and jobseekers across the continent to navigate the new employment landscape.

According to the Impact of COVID-19 Job Reports, sales roles in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya are the most sought-after, with 15 per cent, four per cent and 13 per cent of job postings in each market, respectively between January and August 2020.

The study found out that IT and telecoms was the top industry with the most job postings in Ghana and Nigeria, 12 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, while the government had the most job postings in Kenya with 15 per cent.

It stated that customer service and support was the most declining job function in Ghana and Nigeria, with two per cent and five per cent respectively and management and business development was the most declining job function in Kenya with four per cent.

The reports stated that companies in all three countries were hiring more professionals with mid-level experience to fill their hiring activities than any other experience level, although not as much as they did last year.

The statement said the reports were compiled by Jobberman (Ghana and Nigeria) and BrighterMonday (Kenya), and explored factors such as trending industries/sectors, trending roles, trending skills, trending salaries/benefits, major trends caused by COVID-19 and job market trends and forecasts for Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

Despite a decline in hiring in some industries, the analysts predicted a rise in demand for certain skills post-COVID as companies prepare to address the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

The reports forecasted that hard skills such as digital and coding skills, data analytics and literacy and problem solving skills, as well as soft skills such as adaptability and agility, emotional intelligence and critical thinking were the skills companies were hiring for right now.

 It was discovered that there was a change in how employers view compensation with mental health and wellness benefits, flex pay and childcare support more prominent in compensation packages.

According to findings, virtual recruitment, remote working and the acceleration of technology adoption are some of the other major trends caused by COVID-19.

Commenting on the findings of the report, the Managing Director of ROAM Africa Jobs, Hilda Kragha, said, “These reports not only highlights the impact of the pandemic, but also serves as a guide for all employers to assess how they deal with change.

“The pandemic has undoubtedly caused a number of challenges, but some of the changes it has brought are quite exciting, because they offer the potential for dynamic transformations.

“As we assess and plan for the future, business leaders, HR practitioners and policymakers will have to work together to develop effective solutions that will make them better equipped for the future and create a better workplace for both employers and employees.”

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