A recent report by the Circle for Action and Reflection on Business (CARE) has drawn attention to a burgeoning issue of considerable importance: the escalating brain drain of digital talents from Algeria to foreign countries. Authored by Slim Othmani, the report, titled “National Emergency! The Flight of Digital Talent Threatens Our Development,” was released on Saturday, August 19, 2023. The report seeks to critically examine the causes and implications of this talent drain, both within the Algerian context and as part of a broader international trend.
For more than a decade and a half, the question of whether Algeria possesses the requisite digital expertise to bolster its economic growth and development has persisted. The catalyst for this concern was a notable announcement by the German government, facing a severe shortage of computer engineers, which contemplated recruiting international talents to address the deficit. This revelation raised questions about Algeria’s own digital talent pool and the potential ramifications of a significant brain drain in a field integral to the nation’s development.
Current Scenario
The report underscores that the situation has evolved considerably since that initial revelation. In the present day, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily lives has brought the issue of talent deficiency back to the forefront. This trend is not unique to Algeria; European countries are grappling with alarming shortfalls in digital talent.
European Talent Shortages
Germany, as per research from the Institute of Economic Research (IW) in Cologne, is estimated to face a shortage of 700,000 professionals in the MINT sectors (Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Technology) over the next decade. This crisis is particularly alarming given that Germany’s digitalization efforts are already lagging, and the nation is increasingly dependent on foreign workers to fill these gaps.
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France, another European nation, anticipates a deficit of approximately 400,000 tech talents by 2030, as highlighted in a report by the Montaigne Institute. This talent shortage consistently ranks as a top hindrance cited by business leaders, hindering France’s ability to remain competitive in an ever-digitalizing world and participate fully in future technological advancements.
The North African Perspective
The report echoes the concerns of a broader European context, as it becomes increasingly evident that the shortage of digital skills in Europe is a formidable obstacle to innovation and competitiveness. The urgent need for solutions is exacerbated by the vast scale of the challenge, with over 20 million individuals needing training by 2030.
EU Initiatives
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the European Union (EU) has initiated three key actions aimed at addressing European needs and strengthening the capabilities of countries likely to be targeted for talent recruitment, such as those in North Africa. These initiatives highlight the necessity for a support mechanism for nations like Algeria that face the potential mass departure of digital talents.
The Algerian Challenge
The report underscores the importance of addressing this challenge in Algeria. It recommends a comprehensive effort to align the supply and demand in digital professions, emphasizing the need for a quantitative and qualitative assessment of current offerings and a forward-looking analysis of future job landscapes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the report emphasizes that Algeria, like other nations in the region, is a prime target for recruiting digital talents. The upheavals brought about by artificial intelligence in the world of work, coupled with the imperatives of innovation and competitiveness, pose real challenges to Algeria’s governance.
The report underscores the necessity of placing training in digital professions at the top of the national priorities list. The current goals set by the Algerian government regarding talent attraction and retention are seen as insufficient in light of the challenges ahead. Building a comprehensive digital ecosystem involves more than just smartphone applications; it requires investments in infrastructure, security, data analysis, and more.
By 2030, Algeria will need to double or even triple its digital training capacity to meet domestic demand and counteract the potential talent exodus. The report calls for a comprehensive understanding of the digital value chain to avoid disillusionment.
In addressing the allure of countries seeking digital talents, the report warns against the counterproductive path of repression against those aspiring to immigrate. Instead, it emphasizes the role of diplomacy in identifying and implementing necessary cooperation agreements with influential countries in the digital field.
Finally, the report highlights that clarity and leadership will be essential to navigate these disruptions politically and socially, as they carry significant socio-economic consequences not only for Algeria but for nations worldwide.
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Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard