Photo by Navigating the ICT Skills Drought: South Africa’s Need for Experience Over Education
The recent publication of the 2024 IITPSA ICT Skills Survey unveils a stark reality: South Africa’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector is plagued with significant skills shortages. As industries evolve and demand for specialized knowledge intensifies, employers are increasingly prioritizing experience over academic qualifications in their hiring processes.
Tony Parry, CEO of IITPSA, alongside Hloni Mokenela from Africa Analysis, shared these insights during the survey’s launch event held on October 29, 2024. They illuminated the compelling trend of ICT professionals increasingly looking overseas for remote work opportunities in the face of local shortages. This shift draws attention to the urgent need for skills development within South Africa, as many qualified individuals seek better prospects abroad.
Top Skills Demand
The survey results reveal pointed preferences among employers, with 46% of organizations highlighting information security and cyber security as the most critical skill gap. Following closely are demands for artificial intelligence and machine learning (32%) and big data and data science (19%). As these technologies explode in relevance, the talent pool remains dangerously shallow, leaving companies scrambling for capable candidates.
This raises an essential question: how do we fill these gaps effectively? With nearly 27% of employers currently experiencing shortages in AI/ML skills, it’s clear that our education system must adapt to provide better-prepared graduates.
The Impact of Brain Drain
An alarming factor contributing to the skills gap is the brain drain, where skilled professionals migrate out of South Africa for better opportunities elsewhere. The survey found that 24% of employers cited this migration as a significant contributing factor to the ongoing skills shortage. Coupled with other issues, such as an inadequate pool of new graduates and insufficient basic training, the challenge is magnified.
Already, 49% of ICT practitioners are seriously considering taking their talents abroad, while another 11% have begun this journey. The allure of better working conditions, remuneration, and career progressions often overshadows local prospects.
“In earlier editions of the skills survey, corporates had indicated a preference for academic training as the main attribute they used when selecting new candidates,” Mokenela pointed out at the launch event. “In recent years, however, professional experience was picked well ahead of the rest.”
This shift in priorities raises intriguing questions. Are we prioritizing the wrong metrics in our hiring processes? If experience now outweighs academic achievements, educational institutions must pivot their training methods to align more closely with industry needs.
Filling the Employment Void
Despite the migratory trends, there is hope. The percentage of companies recruiting from overseas has dropped to 36% in 2024, down from 50% in the previous survey cycle. This indicates a growing belief in nurturing local talent and fostering a robust industry base.
To retain skilled professionals, many companies are introducing flexible work schedules and focused development programs. A remarkable 44% of employers have recognized the importance of flexibility, allowing team members to work around their personal circumstances, which has become a crucial selling point in talent acquisition.
Interestingly, 38% of practitioners are taking their skill development into their own hands through platforms like Coursera and Udemy. This proactive approach highlights a shift towards self-directed learning in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Moreover, 97% of respondents acknowledged the necessity to reskill continually, indicating a broad understanding that lifelong learning is mandatory in technology fields.
The Road Ahead: Education and Training
In the words of Tony Parry, “The lack of progress in broadening STEM education and training programs not linked to employment continue to contribute to the skills gap challenges.” Clearly, there is an urgent need for coordinated efforts toward making candidates job-ready as they enter the labor force.
While many training schemes exist, we must critically assess their effectiveness. Are these initiatives meeting the needs of our rapidly changing technological environment? As corporate and educational institutions collaborate, the future workforce must emerge equipped not just with foundational knowledge but with the soft skills needed to navigate professional landscapes successfully.
The findings of the 2024 IITPSA ICT Skills Survey are a call to action for all stakeholders involved—from educators and corporate leaders to government policymakers—to take meaningful strides towards bridging the skills gap. Our nation’s digital future depends on it.
