The employment landscape has undergone a significant transformation, shifting away from the traditional job economy towards what we commonly refer to as the gig economy. Nowadays, many of us find ourselves engaged in what can be described as non-traditional jobs, with remote work being a prevailing trend. According to a report by the World Bank, the gig economy constitutes a substantial 12 percent of the global labor market, signifying a fundamental change in how we approach work. We are, for the most part, embracing this shift toward gig work with enthusiasm.
A notable illustration of this change can be observed in Sub-Saharan Africa, where job opportunities on digital platforms have surged by a remarkable 130 percent. This surge far surpasses the growth rate experienced in North America, which stands at a mere 14 percent. Africa is embracing remote job opportunities more eagerly than ever before.
The allure of working from anywhere has become a ubiquitous slogan for companies and a fervent aspiration for job seekers. Nevertheless, a closer examination of this phenomenon, often seasoned with the bitter taste of countless rejected job applications (drawn from personal experience), prompts a crucial question: Is the "anywhere" in remote jobs genuinely "anywhere"?
The term "anywhere" in the context of many remote job offerings carries an implicit caveat, reminding us that not all "anywheres" are created equal. In essence, it implies that certain remote positions may not be as accessible or favorable for individuals located in certain regions. This is particularly evident when considering remote job opportunities in Africa, which can often be a daunting endeavor. Despite the global embrace of remote work, numerous job boards still exhibit geographical biases, with many of them excluding Africa-based remote workers. The experience of discovering a job that perfectly aligns with your qualifications and pays in desirable currencies such as dollars and euros, only to find the discouraging label "Remote—US, UK, and Canada only" is all too familiar.
For individuals seeking remote work opportunities in Africa, here's a compiled list of six job boards that not only offer remote positions but also extend their arms to the African workforce:
- Working Nomads is a personal favorite, primarily due to its dedicated "Africa" category. Job seekers can easily filter job searches by location, exclude Africa, and uncover job listings that welcome workers from the region. The array of jobs on Working Nomads spans various domains, encompassing developers, content writers, and marketing roles.
2. Remote Ok:
- Remote Ok, found at remoteok.com, features an ever-evolving list of job postings in fields such as programming, design, Dev Ops, management, finance, product development, customer support, sales, and marketing. Frequent refreshing guarantees new job opportunities. Users can further narrow down their search by selecting specific countries to find jobs that accept remote workers from their region.
- We Work Remotely, or WWR, provides remote job openings in Africa, though locating them may require a bit more effort due to the absence of a location-filtering feature. Nevertheless, WWR offers valuable resources, including guidance on entering the world of remote work and a list of companies actively hiring remote workers.
- As the name suggests, Remote Africa serves as Africa's remote work hub, connecting African talent with overseas remote opportunities. While the job listings on this platform may vary, it's a valuable resource for those seeking remote work on the continent.
5. Internally:
- Internally.co is often referred to as Africa's private job board. Specializing in talent acquisition for African startups, it provides outsourced solutions for organizations in various domains, including customer support, sales, marketing, HR, product development, and administrative assistance.
6. Remotive:
- Remotive stands out for its extensive job listings for Africans, many of which are labeled as 'worldwide.' It's essential to note that positions listed under 'worldwide' or 'anywhere' often imply that they are open to applicants from various countries, including those in Africa.
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