Abu Dhabi:Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom emphasized the necessity of enhancing Egypt's skills development system. This initiative aims to prepare the national workforce for impending employment changes due to rapid advancements in the global economy.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Rostom highlighted that the increasing incorporation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is opening new opportunities in the job market while simultaneously raising the demand for specialized skills. These remarks were made during a meeting with Firas Abu Hamza, LinkedIn's head of government affairs for the Middle East and North Africa, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in forecasting labor market needs and employing big data to identify in-demand skills.

The dialogue centered on aligning Egypt's human capital development policies with changing global economic and technological trends. Rostom emphasized directing training and skills development toward economic sectors with significant potential for creating quality, sustainable jobs. This approach aims to bridge the gap between the capabilities of job seekers and the actual needs of employers, thereby enhancing professional competencies and international competitiveness of Egyptian talent.

The meeting also explored the integration of LinkedIn's databases and advanced analytics with Egypt's national data and statistics to create a detailed map of skills gaps, identifying the most in-demand specializations. This would equip policymakers with a tool to support workforce planning.

Abu Hamza noted that Egypt is a significant market for LinkedIn, with about 14 million users, including professionals, youth, and businesses. He expressed LinkedIn's readiness to utilize its analytical capabilities to aid the ministry in understanding employment trends and identifying priority sectors. This effort aims to develop a flexible labor market that can effectively address future challenges and opportunities.