As businesses embrace artificial intelligence, the ability to work with technology could become just as important as professional qualifications.
Imagine a company that once needed an entire team to prepare reports, respond to customers, organise information and develop marketing materials. Today, some of these activities can be handled using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, sometimes within a few minutes.
This does not necessarily mean that the company no longer needs employees. However, it raises a different question: if technology can perform certain tasks, what should employees bring to the workplace to remain valuable?
Artificial intelligence is gradually changing the expectations placed on workers, and Rwanda is not exempt from this transformation. From small businesses to large institutions, the growing availability of digital tools is creating new ways of completing everyday activities.
The potential impact is particularly important in a country where employment opportunities remain a major concern, especially among young people.
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), approximately 4.7 million people were employed in the third quarter of 2026. However, the unemployment rate stood at 15.6%, up from 13.4% during the same period in 2025.
Among young people aged between 16 and 30, unemployment reached 18.8%. With these challenges already affecting the labour market, the introduction of technologies that can perform certain workplace activities makes it increasingly important to consider how people will prepare for future employment.
The workplace may demand different skills
For a long time, having an academic qualification and experience in a particular profession was considered one of the main ways of securing employment. While these remain important, employers may increasingly look at whether candidates can use technology to improve their performance.
Consider a marketing department. An employee can now use AI to generate campaign ideas, analyse audience behaviour, develop initial content drafts and organise advertising plans. Instead of spending most of the day completing these activities manually, the employee can dedicate more time to understanding customers, developing creative strategies and evaluating campaign results.
The same applies to journalism, where technology can assist with research organisation, transcription and translation. However, the ability to identify an important community issue, ask the right questions, establish trust with sources and report information responsibly remains essential.
In accounting, AI can assist with organising financial records and identifying unusual transactions. In education, teachers can use it to prepare learning materials and develop exercises, while still providing the guidance and personal attention students need.
The important distinction is that knowing how to use these tools does not automatically make someone qualified to perform every professional responsibility. Human judgement, accountability and specialised knowledge remain necessary.
Businesses could benefit, but workers must not be left behind
For Rwandan businesses, AI presents an opportunity to improve productivity, particularly for companies that operate with limited resources. A small business owner, for example, may not have the budget to employ a full marketing department, a graphic designer and a customer service team. Digital tools can help that individual prepare promotional materials, communicate with customers and organise business activities without immediately increasing operating costs.
Larger organisations can also use AI to process information, identify patterns, improve customer experiences and support decision-making.
However, these benefits also come with responsibilities. If companies introduce technology mainly to reduce the number of employees without considering how their workforce can adapt, some workers may find themselves at a disadvantage.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that nearly 40% of jobs worldwide are exposed to AI-related changes. This does not mean that 40% of existing jobs will disappear. Rather, it highlights how widely the technology could influence the responsibilities people perform.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 also projects that approximately 92 million jobs could be displaced globally by 2030, while 170 million new jobs could emerge. This represents a potential net increase of 78 million jobs.
These projections demonstrate that the employment landscape is likely to experience both disruption and growth. However, the opportunities created may not automatically reach the people whose existing jobs are affected. Access to training, technology and relevant education will influence who benefits from the transition.
Young people need to prepare beyond their academic qualifications
One of the biggest challenges could be faced by graduates entering the workforce for the first time.
Many entry-level opportunities provide young professionals with the chance to learn through basic administrative work, preparing documents, handling enquiries and organising information. As businesses automate some of these activities, the traditional starting points for certain careers could become less common or require additional skills.
This makes it important for students to develop practical abilities before completing their studies.
Understanding data, using digital tools, communicating effectively, solving problems and thinking creatively could help graduates distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive environment.
There is also an opportunity for young entrepreneurs. With access to AI tools, individuals can explore business ideas, conduct preliminary market research, prepare presentations and develop promotional content without needing extensive resources from the beginning.
Nevertheless, technology should be treated as a support system rather than a substitute for learning. Someone who can generate a business proposal using AI but cannot explain the idea, understand the market or manage the business may struggle to turn that proposal into something successful.
Rwanda’s opportunity goes beyond adopting technology
Rwanda adopted its National Artificial Intelligence Policy in 2023, establishing a framework for using AI to support national development in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture and public administration.
The country’s progress in digital transformation creates opportunities to explore how AI can contribute to economic activities and public services.
According to NISR’s third-quarter 2026 employment figures, services accounted for 45.6% of employed people, agriculture represented 34.2%, while industry accounted for 20.2%.
These figures are important because the introduction of AI should not only be considered from the perspective of office-based employment. Technology could also support agricultural planning, improve access to market information, assist manufacturers and help businesses provide better services.
However, the benefits will depend on whether people across different sectors can access the necessary technology, training and infrastructure.
Educational institutions also have a role to play. Preparing students for the future should involve more than teaching them how to operate digital tools. They need opportunities to apply knowledge, work on practical problems and understand how technology can be used responsibly.
Employers, meanwhile, should consider investing in staff development so that employees can transition into responsibilities that require more specialised knowledge and human involvement.
There is currently no specific figure establishing how many jobs in Rwanda will disappear as a direct result of AI. Therefore, it would be premature to assume that the technology will lead to widespread unemployment in the country.
What is becoming increasingly clear is that the relationship between people, technology and employment is changing.
For Rwanda, the real opportunity is not simply to become a country that uses artificial intelligence, but to develop a workforce capable of creating value through it. The future may favour people who understand their professions while knowing how to use technology to do their work better.
Ultimately, a university degree, professional experience and technical knowledge will continue to matter. But the ability to learn, adapt and apply those skills in changing circumstances could become one of the most important advantages in the workplace.
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10