The consequences of the digital skills gap on youth entrepreneurs in South Africa and Zimbabwe

Abstract

The global landscape is undergoing significant digital transformation-driven shifts that have resulted in new job opportunities but also new challenges for livelihoods. Among these, the digital skills gap, particularly acute in Africa, presents a formidable obstacle to economic growth and entrepreneurship. Existing research predominantly addresses this gap in broad macroeconomic terms, often overlooking the nuanced realities and variations within specific demographic groups. Through twenty qualitative interviews, this study fills that gap by focusing on youth entrepreneurs in South Africa and Zimbabwe a critical but underexplored demographic, examining their current digital competencies, the methods through which they acquire these skills, and the impact of the digital skills gap on their entrepreneurial ventures. Given their dual role as both employers and employees, their experiences offer crucial in- sights into the broader livelihood implications of the digital divide. The study finds that while some entrepreneurs make progress in bridging the digital skills gap through self-directed learning, the broader lag in adopting digital technologies and the uneven digital skills landscape remain significant obstacles to fully leveraging digital opportunities and scaling their business ventures.