Training-Employment Transition and New Digital Professions: A Solution to Women’s Employability in Cameroon

Introduction

The primary objective of all training programs is to facilitate integration into the job market. However, the transition from training to employment—encompassing young people who study and work simultaneously, as well as those who are unemployed, underemployed, or dissatisfied with self-employment (ILO, 2020) remains a significant challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for women. In Cameroon, the female participation and opportunity rate stands at 70.4%, which is 29.6% lower than that of men (Global Gender Gap, 2022). Nearly eight out of ten female workers are engaged in vulnerable employment, with 93% in informal jobs, and only 11% of paid workers have contracts lasting more than 12 months (Elder and Kring, 2016), from the ILO School to Work Transition Survey). Although there have been some advancements in the Cameroonian job market in recent years, the situation for women remains concerning compared to that of men.

Recent advances and innovations in the digital sector present opportunities for a successful transition from training to employment, particularly for women, due to the emergence of new professions. In Cameroon, the digital economy accounted for 3.5% of GDP in 2016 (Djon, 2020). Since then, the digital sector has introduced a variety of professions, including digital marketing, community management, web writing, and blogging, which could facilitate a positive training-employment transition for women in Cameroon. However, women currently represent only 20% of digital workers in the country (Business & Finance International, 2023).

This article examines the challenges of the training-employment transition for women and the emergence of new digital jobs as a potential solution to enhance their employability in Cameroon. Our analysis is structured into two parts: the first provides an overview of the training-employment transition for women in Cameroon, while the second highlights new digital professions as opportunities for improving this transition.

1. Overview of the training-employment transition of women in Cameroon

Providing young people with well-paid, decent employment that aligns with their skills is one of the key objectives of national policies. Additionally, addressing the challenges faced by women in this area to enhance their conditions is a national priority. Women encounter various obstacles while pursuing education and seeking employment. While this list is not exhaustive, we can identify three critical reasons why the transition from training to employment for women tends to take longer.

First, Cameroonian women face greater challenges in securing employment compared to men. In fact, the unemployment rate for women is 6.1% higher than that for men (NIS, 2021).

Additionally, Cameroonian women hold a disproportionately low number of jobs that match their skills. In fact, underemployment impacts 65% of Cameroonians, with 78% of women affected compared to 63.7% of men (EESI II, 2016). Although women’s access to certain training programs has improved, this does not necessarily translate into a higher percentage of women employed in these fields. Currently, men occupy over 80% of senior positions in Cameroon, significantly outnumbering women (Global Gender Gap, 2022).

Finally, numerous stereotypes persist in Cameroonian society. In addition to the cultural burden they impose, these stereotypes contribute to the reality that women frequently accumulate less human capital than men. In certain regions of Cameroon, families often prioritize young boys for higher-quality education, enabling them to secure better employment opportunities. Consequently, women’s jobs are often marked by lower wages and limited social benefits.

Employment transition programs offered by national and international institutions aim to bridge the gap between training and employment. These initiatives include financing programs to encourage entrepreneurship and training designed to guide young people toward digital professions. However, such programs are insufficient in Cameroon, particularly for young Cameroonian women. Despite this, the global evolution of the digital sector is becoming increasingly central to addressing these challenges. The integration of digital technologies has created a wealth of new opportunities, especially in terms of employment.

Providing young people with well-paid, decent employment that matches their skills is one of the objectives pursued by national policies. Furthermore, focusing on the situation of women in this area in order to improve their conditions is a national challenge. Women face obstacles while studying and looking for a job. Without claiming to be exhaustive, we can cite three essential reasons why the training-employment transition for women takes longer.

2. New digital professions as an opportunity for training-employment transition for women in Cameroon

Differences in productivity can be attributed to the disparities in human capital that individuals accumulate during their education (Becker, 1964). The added value of training corresponds to the increased output generated by workers. Furthermore, the productivity differences among Cameroonian women can be explained by the unequal human capital they have acquired throughout their schooling. Cameroonian women encounter numerous employment challenges, including limited access to quality education in certain regions of the country, societal biases, and unequal opportunities. The digital economy offers a significant opportunity for improving the training-to-employment transition for women in Cameroon, thereby enhancing their potential value in the workforce.

It is well-known that recruitment processes in Cameroon can often be tedious. However, web professions do not require prior procedures and are accessible to everyone, particularly women who are unemployed. The digital revolution has generated a diverse array of job opportunities in fields such as digital marketing, content creation, programming, data analysis, and website development. These positions not only provide flexible working conditions but also offer substantial potential for self-employment and entrepreneurship.

With the right skills and training, women can capitalize on the emerging digital job market by leveraging their creativity, analytical abilities, and adaptability. Starting with fields such as freelancing, community management, translation, data entry, and online sales, the internet offers a variety of small professions that are continually evolving. These opportunities can facilitate a smoother transition into employment for women in Cameroon.

Conclusion and recommendations

Providing women with digital skills and facilitating their transition from school to work through the digital economy is a viable solution for enhancing their employability in Cameroon. By adopting a multi-stakeholder approach that involves educational institutions, government, and the private sector, it is possible to create an ecosystem that promotes the development of gender-responsive skills, entrepreneurship, and equal employment opportunities. Policies should establish training programs, workshops, and courses tailored to the demands of the digital job market; developing skills such as coding, digital marketing, online content creation, and e-commerce is essential. Furthermore, policies should focus on bridging the digital divide, promoting gender equality, and fostering entrepreneurship. This includes investing in digital infrastructure, providing funding and grants to women-led startups, and creating mentoring and networking opportunities. Investing in women’s employability not only benefits them individually but also contributes to the overall socio-economic growth and development of the country.