For years, many young Zambians have been told that getting a university degree is one of the safest ways to improve their chances of finding a good job.
But the job market is changing, and having a degree alone may no longer be enough.
This does not mean university education has become useless. Rather, employers are increasingly looking beyond academic qualifications and asking another important question: What can this person actually do?
The Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management has warned that academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient, with employers increasingly demanding digital, communication, problem-solving, critical-thinking and adaptive skills.
This is an important message for students, graduates and people currently searching for employment.
A degree can demonstrate that someone has completed a particular level of education and acquired knowledge in a specific field. But an employer may still want evidence that the person can communicate with customers, use technology, analyse information, solve problems and work effectively with others.
Consider two graduates applying for the same job.
Both have similar qualifications.
One has a degree but little practical experience outside the classroom.
The other has the same degree but has also completed internships, worked on projects, learned relevant software and developed strong communication skills.
The second candidate may have an advantage because they can demonstrate practical abilities rather than simply listing academic qualifications.
This is one reason internships, volunteering, short courses, professional certifications and practical projects can become valuable additions to a CV.
The changing labour market is also being influenced by technology.
Many workplaces now use digital systems that were either unavailable or less common when older generations entered employment.
A graduate may therefore be expected to understand basic digital tools regardless of whether their degree is in business, communications, accounting, agriculture or another discipline.
Technology is also creating completely new forms of work.
Digital marketing, content creation, software development, data analysis, e-commerce, online customer service and other technology-related activities are creating opportunities that did not exist at the same scale in previous generations.
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Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science has highlighted the growth of the country’s digital sector, including increases in mobile and internet subscriptions between 2021 and 2025.
That growth means digital skills could become increasingly valuable across different industries.
But there is another important change taking place.
Employers are increasingly interested in people who can adapt.
A person may be hired for one role today and find that the job has changed significantly within several years because of technology, new business models or changing customer expectations.
Someone who can learn new skills quickly may therefore have an advantage over someone who relies entirely on what they learned at university.
This is particularly important for young graduates entering a competitive job market.
Instead of asking only, “What degree should I study?”, students may also need to ask, “What skills will make me useful when I graduate?”
The answer could include communication, computer literacy, financial literacy, digital marketing, data analysis, sales, project management, entrepreneurship or technical skills depending on the career.
This does not mean every young person needs to become a technology expert.
It means education and practical skills increasingly need to complement each other.
The changing job market may also explain why some graduates eventually work in fields that have little connection to what they studied at university.
A person who studied a particular subject may discover that their strongest opportunities are in sales, business, communications, technology or another field.
For employers, this can be beneficial because they gain access to people with different backgrounds and transferable skills.
For graduates, however, it means they should avoid thinking that their degree automatically determines the rest of their working life.
The first job may simply be the beginning.
Young Zambians should therefore consider building a portfolio of skills rather than relying on one qualification.
A degree can open the door, but practical ability, attitude, communication and willingness to learn may determine what happens after that door opens.
In a labour market that is becoming more digital and competitive, the question employers ask may increasingly be less about “What certificate do you have?” and more about “What can you do for us?”
For students and job seekers, that could be one of the most important lessons to understand before entering Zambia’s changing workforce.
