FEATURE : IT SKILLS is conducive to job opportunity , career growth , and a better deal for workers in their fight to keep living costs down . But that is something we cannot control .”
Rather than South Africa grappling with these difficulties and internalising all efforts , it would be better to look at how other countries in the world are handling the problem .
Nicol Myburgh , Head CRS Technologies HCM
Business Unit
Formal education
A traditional starting point is the formal education sector . There is a need for updated and flexible curricula that are in sync with global advancements in AI . Programmes need to be introduced that make AI and data analytics exciting and accessible to students from a young age . The onus lies on academic institutions to work in partnership with governments across the continent and private sector organisations .
It all begins with reliable access to high-speed connectivity . Non-urban and remote communities need this connectivity to reduce the existing gap between themselves and those in metropolitan areas with more readily available wireless and fibre access . Policies must also be put in place to create an enabling environment for technology to help overcome the numerous social problems that exists .
“ More companies need to integrate AI into their operations while boosting existing investments in upskilling their workforce . As AI becomes more mainstream , the demand for skilled professionals is going to surge . Organisations need to acknowledge this and take proactive steps to build their AI talent pipeline ,” says SAS ’ Junaid .
Bridging the AI skills gap in Africa is a formidable challenge that will not happen overnight .
Retention and attraction
This shortage is evident across many industries and sectors . In IT , the lack of available skills is hitting the software development space hard . In order to address this , businesses have begun to recruit developers in other countries
According to CRS Technologies ’ Myburgh , the problem may not lie with skills creation or development , it may actually lie with skills retention . “ The solution really is to make South Africa a more attractive place to be , with improved infrastructure and business environment that
“ We need to get to grips with international employment trends and make it easier for local employees to secure digital nomad visas in other countries . This is especially true of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence , robotics , quantum computing and machine learning ,” says Myburgh .
Business must lead
In an environment where young people are understandably concerned about the job market and what career path to take , it can be tempting to take the first available option . It is highly advisable to try aligning your interests and passions with what is in demand in the job market as much as possible . South Africa faces a massive challenge in having highly skilled people in oversaturated fields , and a notable skills shortage in other industries including technology .
There is a huge benefit for any business , whether they are technology companies or not , to really take the time to understand what skills they have at their disposal , and how they can utilise those going forward . “ For businesses directly involved in technology , the stakes are even higher because investing in people is investing in an organisation ’ s relevance ,” points out Dariel Software ’ s Britz .
“ In the ever-evolving technology industry , staying competitive is not only beneficial for organisations aiming to attract and retain top talent , but also instrumental in the personal and career development of all professionals . When done thoughtfully and with intent , career planning helps young professionals take proactive measures to enhance their skills and fulfil their career aspirations , and ensures organisations stay competitive ,” says Britz .
According to CRS Technologies ’ Myburgh , “ AI should be seen less as a threat and more as a job enhancement tool . Where it does replace actual jobs , it is simply the march of progress , many jobs have been replaced by automation over the years , but in turn many more have been created . The job market is evolving and not being eliminated .”
It is evident that it is both technology and people that will drive this evolution and the role of business in it . p
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