Africa’s Digital Workforce to Reach 230 Million by 2030, Driven by AI Adoption — Mastercard Report
Africa’s digital workforce is projected to grow to 230 million by 2030, fueled by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across key economic sectors, according to a new Mastercard whitepaper titled Harnessing the Transformative Power of AI in Africa. The report highlights that responsible and inclusive AI deployment could unlock unprecedented job opportunities, transforming industries such as agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, and finance.
The study emphasizes that Africa’s youthful demographics, mobile-first infrastructure, and entrepreneurial spirit position the continent to become a major player in the AI-driven global economy. Mastercard projects that the continent’s AI market will expand from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $16.5 billion by 2030. Division President for Africa at Mastercard, Mark Elliott, noted that AI is already reshaping lives on farms, in clinics, and in classrooms, but stressed the need for investment in infrastructure, data, talent, and policy to maximize its potential.
Country-level developments reveal the scale of AI’s economic impact. South Africa, which attracted $610 million in AI-focused venture capital in 2023, aims to establish 300 AI startups and train 5,000 AI professionals by 2030. Kenya’s National AI Strategy (2025–2030) supports innovation through platforms like Tala, which uses mobile data for credit scoring, and Jacaranda Health’s AI-powered chatbot UlizaLlama, which delivers maternal health assistance in multiple local languages.
Nigeria, ranked second in Africa for AI startups, secured $218 million in venture capital in 2023. Its AI initiatives include personalised learning platforms such as Rising Academies, microfinance solutions like Kudi.ai, and governance tools monitoring public fund allocation. Nigeria’s AI market is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, Morocco’s Digital 2030 strategy targets $1.1 billion in AI investments and the creation of 240,000 digital jobs, with projects spanning healthcare, energy, agriculture, and finance.
Despite these opportunities, Mastercard’s report warns of challenges such as fragmented data systems, language barriers, and inconsistent regulations, which could deepen the digital divide if left unaddressed. The whitepaper calls for strong multi-stakeholder collaboration between governments, the private sector, and international organizations to ensure that AI growth is both responsible and inclusive. Contributions to the report came from UNESCO, the African Centre for Economic Transformation, and leading African fintech innovators.
Source: Punch