
SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Why it matters
The industry’s contribution
As a general-purpose technology, mobile improves the utilisation of labour and capital and increases productivity. Studies by the ITU have shown that a 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration causes a 1.5–2.5% increase in GDP.[34] In 2022, mobile technologies and services generated 5% of global GDP, a contribution that amounted to $5.2 trillion of economic value added.[35] In particular, 5G will add almost $1 trillion to the global economy in 2030, with benefits spread across all industries.[36]
Mobile technologies also enable the formalisation of the informal sector. For example, mobile financial services can facilitate more effective monetary policy by shifting currency and assets into the formal financial system. Transferring resources from the informal to formal economy makes monetary tools more effective and supports efforts to achieve macroeconomic stability.
Furthermore, mobile technologies support employment. In 2022, mobile operators and the wider mobile ecosystem provided direct employment to around 16 million people across the world; in addition, the industry indirectly supported another 12 million jobs by stimulating employment in other sectors.[37] Mobile money also creates opportunities for individuals to partner with operators to manage agent outlets, generating an additional source of income. The GSMA estimates that the number of registered agents grew by over 40% in 2022, reaching 17 million.[38]
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Maximising mobile’s impact by 2030
In markets where mobile is the primary way of accessing the internet, increasing the use of mobile-enabled services and platforms for applying and searching for jobs can help to maximise mobile’s impact on SDG 8 by 2030. To do this, there is a need to promote digital skills and education across all parts of society. This should be coupled with creating smarter laws to protect personal data, giving people greater confidence to do more tasks online.

Case Studies
Patience
Fridah
Aletcenter
Valentine
Tonema
Tonema uses mobile internet to buy fabric and materials which she uses to create products for her clothing business. Alongside her work, she supports her family by cooking new recipes she’s learnt from watching YouTube.
GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion
GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion
MTN launches digital skills academy to boost youth employment
Among Sub-Saharan Africa's population of 200 million young people, around 38 million are currently not engaged in any form of education, employment or training. This figure is on the rise, with young women being disproportionately affected, as reported by the International Labour Organization. The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development emphasises that by 2025, at least 60% of both youth and adults must possess a minimum level of proficiency in sustainable digital skills. This level of proficiency is crucial to enable them to fully access and benefit from the wide array of online services and resources available.
In 2022, MTN launched the MTN Skills Academy in collaboration with public and private sector partners to address digital challenges faced by young people. The programme integrates existing ICT programmes to better serve the communities in which MTN operates. It offers career guidance counselling, free online training in digital and financial skills, work readiness support for improved employment prospects, and access to job opportunities in the public and private sectors throughout Africa. The academy promotes inclusivity with low-data usage, zero-rating in select markets, country-specific and multilingual functionality and features catering to people with disabilities.
Over 2,000 people joined the MTN Skills Academy in the first month it launched in Zambia, with the number expected to increase during 2023. MTN aims to reach 1 million people through the initiative by 2025, which includes:
• 500,000 career guidance surveys
• 340,000 digital & financial skills courses
• 150,000 job readiness and mentorship courses
• 14,000 job placement opportunities
• 510 rural outreach hubs.

