In a world undergoing rapid technological transformation, many countries face the challenge of massive job losses due to automation and artificial intelligence (AI). However, Mozambique appears to be in a relatively advantageous position: it is one of the few countries where the impact of AI in destroying jobs will be significantly smaller, according to recent analyses and reports from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Informal economy and sectors resistant to automation
The Mozambican economy depends heavily on subsistence agriculture, small businesses and the informal sector, which employs most of the population. These sectors, by their very nature, are less susceptible to automation in the short and medium term. Unlike the large industrial economies that are already implementing robotics and automation on a large scale, the Mozambican labour market depends, to a large extent, on activities that involve human interaction and tasks that require flexibility and adaptability — characteristics that machines cannot yet replicate efficiently.
According to experts at the International Labour Organization (ILO) and their reports, most jobs in Mozambique are outside the formal circuit and in less technologically advanced areas, making the country less vulnerable to replacement by machines. "The informality of our labour market, although a challenge in many respects, ends up being a factor that protects us from the direct impact of AI in the short term", pointed out a local economist.
Technological challenges limit the impact of AI
Another factor contributing to Mozambique’s lower vulnerability to job losses is the existence of technological challenges. The country still faces significant limitations in terms of digital infrastructure and internet access, especially in rural areas. This lack of adequate infrastructure makes the adoption of AI technologies on a large scale a distant reality for many companies and sectors in the country.
AI affects sectors such as manufacturing, transport and financial services most intensely — areas that do not yet have a preponderant presence in the Mozambican economy. On the other hand, the lack of widespread access to digital technologies in more remote areas also delays the replacement of workers by machines.
Growth opportunities and new areas of employment
Although the threat of job losses is smaller, AI also offers growth opportunities for Mozambique. Experts at the International Labour Organization (ILO) point out that, if well managed, the introduction of AI can generate new job opportunities in emerging sectors, such as information technology, the maintenance of automated systems, and even agriculture, through the use of technologies that promote greater productivity and efficiency.
Mozambique has the opportunity to take advantage of a technological future by investing strategically in education and technology training. Preparing future generations for more skilled jobs, linked to the development and management of technological solutions, will be crucial to ensuring a sustainable and advantageous transition for the country.
A balanced future
Although AI represents a potential threat to many countries as regards employment, Mozambique has the possibility of standing out as a country where the transition to advanced technologies will be more gradual. With an economy that still depends largely on manual and informal activities, and with technological limitations that restrict immediate automation, the country may face a more moderate impact in terms of job losses.
To ensure that Mozambique can benefit from this gradual transition, it is crucial that both government and the private sector invest in digital infrastructure and in the vocational training of workers. In this way, they will be preparing Mozambicans to compete in a more technological global economy, without causing abrupt social disruption.
"We are at a point where we must prepare our economy for the future, but with the advantage of being able to learn from the challenges faced by other countries that are already feeling the impact of AI", concluded an economic analyst.
AI as an ally, not a threat
Instead of fearing the impact of AI, Mozambique can opt for strategies that use this technology as an ally in the development and modernisation of its economy. At the same time, it is important to preserve and value the unique characteristics that make the country less vulnerable to mass automation.
In this way, Mozambique may not only withstand the challenges of AI, but also use the technology as a catalyst for its growth, ensuring an inclusive and balanced modernisation that responds to the needs of its population and maximises its areas of advantage. In this way, the country not only protects its jobs, but also prepares a path to the future.
