NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 18 — Limited historical data and uneven access to skilled talent could hamper Africa’s ability to fully leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for economic growth in 2026, according to Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG.
Blackmore noted that the continent continues to face significant shortfalls in AI-skilled labor, a challenge he says could further slow the adoption of AI technologies and limit the economic gains expected from digital transformation.
“I think that policy and investment interventions are probably an area where there can be collaboration between the private sector and the public sector — through funding, course design, and ensuring that the skills taught in universities are fit for purpose when they hit the business sector,” he said.
He added that the urgency is particularly acute given the uncertain window in which AI will be integrated across industries: “We need to produce the skills that can work with it in this type of environment.”
The concerns come as firms across Africa accelerate technology adoption to drive efficiency and innovation. Blackmore pointed to East Africa as a regional frontrunner, with 40 percent of CEOs already investing in AI and 62 percent actively recruiting tech-savvy talent.
He emphasized that AI is intended to augment, not replace, human capital, making workforce readiness essential to achieving meaningful impact.
However, he cautioned that without coordinated efforts to develop relevant skills and improve access to structured, high-quality data, AI adoption may be slower and its benefits unevenly distributed.
Blackmore stressed the need for deeper collaboration between public institutions and private companies to develop fit-for-purpose academic programs and training pathways that prepare workers for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
