Lusaka: The World Bank Group and the Government of Zambia recently completed a Roadmap on how the country can leverage its large copper resources to drive economic growth. Copper mining in Zambia is not new—it's been around for over a century. Yet, despite copper contributing 15% of GDP and more than 70% of exports, production has been stuck at around 800,000 metric tons per year since 1969. That could soon change. With global demand rising, the government has ambitious plans to triple copper production by 2031. Big mining names like Anglo American, First Quantum Minerals, Barrick, and newcomer Kobold are already investing heavily. Tripling production in just six years will be a stretch, but output is already climbing. The question is: Will Zambia have the skilled workforce needed to fill the jobs this expansion will create?

According to World Bank, the analysis for the Roadmap looked at the kinds of jobs that will be created across copper production, processing, and downstream value addition, and how ready Zambia's universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are to supply the necessary skills. Approximately 25% of the jobs will be managers and professionals such as mine managers and engineers, requiring degrees or diplomas. Meanwhile, 15% will be elementary workers needing secondary education. A significant challenge is that Zambia's TVET system currently does not produce enough qualified graduates to meet the demand for technicians, craftspeople, and artisans. Most TVET institutions focus on delivering cheaper craft and trade programs, and only a handful have effective partnerships with mining firms. In 2023, only 800 students graduated from institutions meeting industry quality standards, with just one in five qualified for technician or artisan-level jobs.

The Roadmap suggests that the government consider four complementary options to address these gaps: introducing incentives for collaboration on curriculum and training, providing public financing for industry-led training centers, concentrating resources in specialized centers of excellence, and expanding student loan schemes for higher-level technical training.

At the higher education level, Zambia boasts two reputable universities—Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA)—producing graduates in mining engineering and related fields. CBU has been positioned as an African Centre of Excellence for mining. However, mining companies have expressed concern that the universities are not keeping their training curricula and facilities up-to-date with industry changes. To remain relevant, CBU and UNZA should consider updating curricula, providing instructor training, and expanding work-based learning opportunities.

In terms of value addition, Zambia has potential for job creation by turning copper into products like wires and batteries. However, downstream manufacturing remains limited, partly due to competition from China, which has a large market share in value-added products. To compete, Zambia needs to boost its skills base, particularly in research and development, and offer incentives for manufacturers.

The mining industry globally struggles to attract young people and women. Changing perceptions, promoting safe work environments, and creating pathways into technical and leadership roles are essential to address this issue in Zambia.

With copper production set to grow, Zambia stands at a turning point with the chance to create thousands of jobs. However, aligning education and training systems with industry needs is crucial to fully seize this opportunity.

The World Bank, with support from the Extractives Global Programmatic Support Trust Fund under the Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement Partnership, is working with the Government of Zambia and other African countries to harness energy transition minerals for inclusive and sustainable growth. The World Bank is also supporting Zambia's Ministry of Technology and Science to strengthen its skills development system in partnership with industry.

Lusaka: The World Bank Group and the Government of Zambia recently completed a Roadmap on how the country can leverage its large copper resources to drive economic growth. Copper mining in Zambia is not new—it's been around for over a century. Yet, despite copper contributing 15% of GDP and more than 70% of exports, production has been stuck at around 800,000 metric tons per year since 1969. That could soon change. With global demand rising, the government has ambitious plans to triple copper production by 2031. Big mining names like Anglo American, First Quantum Minerals, Barrick, and newcomer Kobold are already investing heavily. Tripling production in just six years will be a stretch, but output is already climbing. The question is: Will Zambia have the skilled workforce needed to fill the jobs this expansion will create?

According to World Bank, the analysis for the Roadmap looked at the kinds of jobs that will be created across copper production, processing, and downstream value addition, and how ready Zambia's universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are to supply the necessary skills. Approximately 25% of the jobs will be managers and professionals such as mine managers and engineers, requiring degrees or diplomas. Meanwhile, 15% will be elementary workers needing secondary education. A significant challenge is that Zambia's TVET system currently does not produce enough qualified graduates to meet the demand for technicians, craftspeople, and artisans. Most TVET institutions focus on delivering cheaper craft and trade programs, and only a handful have effective partnerships with mining firms. In 2023, only 800 students graduated from institutions meeting industry quality standards, with just one in five qualified for technician or artisan-level jobs.

The Roadmap suggests that the government consider four complementary options to address these gaps: introducing incentives for collaboration on curriculum and training, providing public financing for industry-led training centers, concentrating resources in specialized centers of excellence, and expanding student loan schemes for higher-level technical training.

At the higher education level, Zambia boasts two reputable universities—Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA)—producing graduates in mining engineering and related fields. CBU has been positioned as an African Centre of Excellence for mining. However, mining companies have expressed concern that the universities are not keeping their training curricula and facilities up-to-date with industry changes. To remain relevant, CBU and UNZA should consider updating curricula, providing instructor training, and expanding work-based learning opportunities.

In terms of value addition, Zambia has potential for job creation by turning copper into products like wires and batteries. However, downstream manufacturing remains limited, partly due to competition from China, which has a large market share in value-added products. To compete, Zambia needs to boost its skills base, particularly in research and development, and offer incentives for manufacturers.

The mining industry globally struggles to attract young people and women. Changing perceptions, promoting safe work environments, and creating pathways into technical and leadership roles are essential to address this issue in Zambia.

With copper production set to grow, Zambia stands at a turning point with the chance to create thousands of jobs. However, aligning education and training systems with industry needs is crucial to fully seize this opportunity.

The World Bank, with support from the Extractives Global Programmatic Support Trust Fund under the Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement Partnership, is working with the Government of Zambia and other African countries to harness energy transition minerals for inclusive and sustainable growth. The World Bank is also supporting Zambia's Ministry of Technology and Science to strengthen its skills development system in partnership with industry.

Lusaka: The World Bank Group and the Government of Zambia recently completed a Roadmap on how the country can leverage its large copper resources to drive economic growth. Copper mining in Zambia is not new—it's been around for over a century. Yet, despite copper contributing 15% of GDP and more than 70% of exports, production has been stuck at around 800,000 metric tons per year since 1969. That could soon change. With global demand rising, the government has ambitious plans to triple copper production by 2031. Big mining names like Anglo American, First Quantum Minerals, Barrick, and newcomer Kobold are already investing heavily. Tripling production in just six years will be a stretch, but output is already climbing. The question is: Will Zambia have the skilled workforce needed to fill the jobs this expansion will create?

According to World Bank, the analysis for the Roadmap looked at the kinds of jobs that will be created across copper production, processing, and downstream value addition, and how ready Zambia's universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are to supply the necessary skills. Approximately 25% of the jobs will be managers and professionals such as mine managers and engineers, requiring degrees or diplomas. Meanwhile, 15% will be elementary workers needing secondary education. A significant challenge is that Zambia's TVET system currently does not produce enough qualified graduates to meet the demand for technicians, craftspeople, and artisans. Most TVET institutions focus on delivering cheaper craft and trade programs, and only a handful have effective partnerships with mining firms. In 2023, only 800 students graduated from institutions meeting industry quality standards, with just one in five qualified for technician or artisan-level jobs.

The Roadmap suggests that the government consider four complementary options to address these gaps: introducing incentives for collaboration on curriculum and training, providing public financing for industry-led training centers, concentrating resources in specialized centers of excellence, and expanding student loan schemes for higher-level technical training.

At the higher education level, Zambia boasts two reputable universities—Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA)—producing graduates in mining engineering and related fields. CBU has been positioned as an African Centre of Excellence for mining. However, mining companies have expressed concern that the universities are not keeping their training curricula and facilities up-to-date with industry changes. To remain relevant, CBU and UNZA should consider updating curricula, providing instructor training, and expanding work-based learning opportunities.

In terms of value addition, Zambia has potential for job creation by turning copper into products like wires and batteries. However, downstream manufacturing remains limited, partly due to competition from China, which has a large market share in value-added products. To compete, Zambia needs to boost its skills base, particularly in research and development, and offer incentives for manufacturers.

The mining industry globally struggles to attract young people and women. Changing perceptions, promoting safe work environments, and creating pathways into technical and leadership roles are essential to address this issue in Zambia.

With copper production set to grow, Zambia stands at a turning point with the chance to create thousands of jobs. However, aligning education and training systems with industry needs is crucial to fully seize this opportunity.

The World Bank, with support from the Extractives Global Programmatic Support Trust Fund under the Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement Partnership, is working with the Government of Zambia and other African countries to harness energy transition minerals for inclusive and sustainable growth. The World Bank is also supporting Zambia's Ministry of Technology and Science to strengthen its skills development system in partnership with industry.