The ICT industry has been a powerful driver of economic growth in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, and has been fairly resistant to the impact of COVID-19 and global lockdowns. With this growth comes an increasing demand for talent. For example, Nigeria is Africa’s biggest digital market, yet employers say job readiness among young people is low, and the training and education sector has not been able to keep up with the changing demands of employers. Similar trends can be seen throughout Europe, with the ICT industry a shortage occupation in 24 European Union Member States.

This case study is one of three in a recent report by CGD and the World Bank, outlining how CGD’s Global Skill Partnership model could be applied to boost the number of skilled professionals in Nigeria and Europe. This piece focuses on the ICT sector. It explores the existing digital and migration ecosystems in Nigeria and four European countries—Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Lithuania—providing practical recommendations for how a targeted skilled migration pathway could be used to boost economic growth in both markets.

Report by the Center for Global Development