(Ecofin Agency) - Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a consulting firm specializing in higher education, released a report on January 16 ranking countries based on their readiness for the global labor market. The report named Egypt as the best-prepared African country to meet the evolving demands of the global job market, highlighting the country’s strengths in digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI) integration across industries, and expertise in green transition sectors.

Titled “QS World Future Skills Index: Transforming Higher Education for the Skills Economy,” the report evaluates 81 countries on their ability to adapt to shifting global labor market demands. It uses over 15 indicators grouped into four main categories: skills fit (workforce flexibility, lifelong learning), academic readiness (access to learning technology, technical education, university rankings), future of work (digital skills, AI knowledge, green tech expertise, job growth, talent availability), and economic transformation (digital transformation, green transition readiness, tech infrastructure).

Each indicator is scored on a scale of 0 to 100 points to create an overall score that reflects a country’s readiness for the rapidly changing global job market.

Egypt ranked 46th globally with an overall score of 60.6 points, standing out in academic readiness (76.9 points) and future of work (75.6 points). South Africa followed as Africa’s second-best performer, scoring 52.4 points, driven by strong results in the same categories.

Meanwhile, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria ranked near the bottom of the global list at 78th, 79th, and 80th place, respectively. These North African nations scored below 31 points overall.

Globally, the United States topped the rankings with a remarkable score of 97.6 points, followed by the United Kingdom (97.1), Germany (94.6), Australia (93.3), and Canada (91).

The report underscores the need for modern skills, such as AI mastery, digital capabilities, and green expertise (including energy efficiency, circular economy practices, resource management, and waste reduction). It notes that up to 375 million people—14% of the global workforce—may need to change occupational categories due to automation, digitalization, and industrial shifts.

To address these challenges, the report recommends reskilling and upskilling for workers and urges governments to update training programs in educational institutions to better meet the demands of the evolving global job market.