The persisting skills mismatch in Africa is widening the gap between learning and earning opportunities for youth. COVID-19 exacerbated the challenges and has had lingering long-term effects. Africa Creates Jobs (ACJ) initiative aims to bring together stakeholders to address these issues through dialogue, solution-finding and enhanced integrated action. The ACJ platform seeks to create better linkages between industry and skills development to support economic growth, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Key success factors include improving labour market information systems, strengthening public-private partnerships, and prioritising the needs of gender and marginalised groups to create an inclusive and dynamic skills and employment ecosystem for the future.