Building the Future: Why Vocational Skills Matter as Much as Tech in the MENA region

The Forgotten Foundations of Progress

In the race to digitize our world, we’ve overlooked a simple truth: Someone must build it. Coding and AI dominate the narrative, but the future isn’t just lines of code. It’s machines, systems, and infrastructure. Those require people who can design, operate, and maintain them.

Technology Alone is Not Enough

The Middle East is making incredible strides in preparing its youth for a digital future. Coding academies and AI initiatives are everywhere, and they’re celebrated for good reason. These skills are critical in today’s world.

However, technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Factories powered by AI still need maintenance. Smart cities require builders, electricians, and technicians. Are we preparing enough people for these roles, or are we creating a gap that will leave industries struggling?

The Reality of Labor Markets

Digital skills are essential, but the physical world demands mastery of machines and materials. Across the region, industries like construction, manufacturing, and energy face growing labor shortages. This gap isn’t just an economic challenge; it’s a societal one. The world doesn’t run without builders.

Economies thrive on balance. Coders create software, but craftsmen make things work. Without this balance, we risk building futures that look great on paper yet lack the physical support to succeed.

A Vision for the Future

Industry leaders have a unique opportunity to bridge this gap. By investing in vocational training, they can create opportunities for young people while strengthening their own industries.

Consider the possibilities:

• Training programs that teach youth to operate advanced machinery.
• Apprenticeships blending practical skills with digital tools.
• A rebranding of vocational careers as essential and respected professions, rather than "blue-collar" work.

This isn’t just about charity; it’s about building resilience. Businesses thrive when their foundations are strong, and vocational skills are part of that foundation.

Empowering the Makers

The future isn’t just about innovation. It’s about sustainability and adaptability. Machines break. Systems fail. Builders and operators ensure they keep running. By empowering the next generation of makers, we secure more than just profits—we ensure long-term stability.

If you’re an industry leader, this is your chance to create lasting impact. Launch training programs. Partner with schools. Reinvest in your workforce. Help create a future that is not only digital but also physical, tangible, and enduring.

Play the Long Game

Most people focus on trends and what’s next. However, the long game is about what endures. Societies thrive on the strength of their builders. Without them, no amount of technology can keep the lights on.

Let’s create a generation that codes the machines of the future and knows how to build and maintain them. The future isn’t just digital—it’s physical. And it’s ours to build.

P.S. The MENA education market is growing fast—$175 billion by 2027—but the question isn’t about size. It’s about balance. Manufacturing industries report critical labor shortages, even as tech training dominates the spotlight. Saudi Arabia is leading the way, with 28% of youth in vocational programs, but there’s still much to build. Unless, of course, you think humanoids will do all the heavy lifting. But even then, someone needs to build and maintain the machines. Curious what you think...

#vocationaltraining #techskills #futureworkforce #industrialskills #educationbalance #digitalfuture #middleeast #gcc #egypt #saudiarabia #uae #oman #kuwait #bahrain #qatar #workforceinnovation #industryleaders #skillsdevelopment