A source of employment for African youth, logistics is becoming a sector of the future
Logistics, a sector of the future for young people
Logistics is not only a matter of infrastructure and flows. It is a sector that recruits massively and offers careers to young people in Africa.
By 2030, half of the new entrants to the global labour market will be African, the IMF estimates. On a continent where every year millions of young people seek to enter the workforce, logistics stands out as one of the most promising sectors.
Because it connects ports, roads, rails and digital platforms, logistics offers a multitude of opportunities: from the port dock to the digital cockpit, from the truck to the cloud.
It is a breeding ground for direct and indirect jobs, and a sector where career development is tangible. It includes traditional hardware – handling, transport, rail – and new professions related to digitalization and sustainability.
A diversity of professions accessible to young people
Behind port cranes and rail terminals are very concrete and accessible professions: handlers, dock operators, truck drivers, consignee agents, stock managers, warehouse workers and logistics coordinators.
These first jobs, accessible with technical diplomas, then allow them to move on to positions in supervision, planning or management. Their demand is increasing on the continent, due to the growth in trade.
To support this dynamic, AGL has entered into solid partnerships with training institutions. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, the company has been collaborating for more than a decade with the Regional Academy of Marine Sciences and Techniques (ARSTM), welcoming about a hundred trainees each year. Many then find permanent employment: more than 200 former ARSTM students now work in the group’s subsidiaries.
In Burkina Faso, the École Supérieure des Métiers Ferroviaires (ESMF), created by SITARAIL, a subsidiary of AGL, trains young technicians and engineers in rail trades. It is the first school created by a railway operator in West Africa.
The digital revolution is creating new jobs
Beyond the new needs created by the growth of the sector, the digital revolution is also reshaping jobs and skills.
The sector is now looking for data analysts, cybersecurity specialists, cloud experts. Mastery of modern supply chain tools – such as WMS (warehouse management) or TMS (transport management) software or flow planning platforms – has become an essential asset.
AGL invests directly in this area. In 2024, the group inaugurated an innovation center in Abidjan called YIRI, which offers training programs and masterclasses on several topics related to digitalization, including AI.
This centre has been designed and structured by the group’s teams down to details such as training courses, with a clear objective, that of preparing young people for the skills of the future. It is supposed to “foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, promote the adoption of emerging technologies, stimulate job creation and the development of local skills”.
Sustainable logistics: other jobs for tomorrow
Another fundamental trend is sustainability. At a time when companies need to reduce their carbon footprint, new professions are starting to emerge, including energy optimization, eco-design of logistics systems, green mobility management, and environmental monitoring of supply chains.
These skills, which are still rare, will be massively sought after in the coming years. AGL has already launched several internal programs to raise awareness and train its employees on the challenges of green logistics.
Preparing young people: a winning double curriculum
What advice should be given to young people who want to get involved in this sector? According to Vincent Galindo, AGL’s Director of Human Resources, the answer is to rely on a “dual curriculum”.
On the one hand, you have to master the hardware – the classic logistics professions – and on the other hand, you have to acquire digital and analytical skills. Clearly, knowing how to drive a truck or manage a rail terminal will no longer be enough. The professionals of tomorrow will also have to handle digital tools, understand data and propose innovative solutions.
In a sector where new international players are seeking to establish themselves, AGL claims a singularity, its historical roots in Africa and its in-depth knowledge of local ecosystems. These assets are accompanied by a unique diversity of activities : port terminal management, rail operations, road transport, warehousing, freight forwarding.
“We have remained in difficult times as well as in periods of growth. We know African talents and their potential. Where some recruit without mastering the context, we invest in training and supporting young people,” says Galindo.
For young Africans looking for job opportunities, logistics is a concrete chance to build a solid career and contribute to the future of the continent. And AGL is already the gateway to this.