On World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15, ICT companies emphasized the increasing demand for AI skills across various industries, highlighting the necessity for young people to be equipped with these skills for future employability and entrepreneurship.
Discussions on July 15 tackled youth unemployment and the skills crisis, stressing the need for a new approach to upskilling and empowering young people with relevant digital skills before they enter the workplace.
Read: SA workers’ adoption rate of AI surpasses those in Europe and US
ICT certifications insufficient
According to experts, ICT certifications alone are no longer sufficient to keep up with rapid workplace changes. South African companies that hire young people with practical skills that meet current and future business demands will be more successful.
Business leaders across Africa have stressed the need to empower youth with future-ready skills, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 8, particularly the growing demand for AI skills in various job roles.
Importance of partnerships
Salesforce research indicates that over 60% of full-time desk workers lack the skills to use generative AI technology, even though most believe this knowledge will advance their careers.
Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Programme Manager at Salesforce South Africa, highlights the need for urgent action to avoid having many certified but unemployable young people. “Upskilling locally is essential to ensure that there is talent to advance the technology sector, which contributes about 8% to the economy,” she says, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration between the government and the business sector to provide hands-on experience.
Combining knowledge and practical skills
Traditional ICT certifications alone are insufficient to keep up with the rapid changes in the technology sector, says Vanashree Govender, Media and Communications Manager at Huawei SA. “Gen Z requires a more hands-on approach to skills training,” she asserts. Huawei’s LEAP program focuses on providing practical, hands-on experience alongside traditional training. At the LEAP Summit 2024, Huawei announced plans to train 150,000 talents in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years, building on their initial goal to equip over 100,000 people with digital skills by 2025.
Entrepreneurship encourages creativity and resilience
Teaching young people entrepreneurship skills fosters creativity, resilience, and a sense of agency, benefiting both individuals and society, says Didi Onwu, Managing Editor of Anzisha, a fellowship program supporting young African entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurship drives economic growth by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and increasing productivity,” says Onwu. “It empowers young people to take control of their destinies by teaching them how to identify opportunities, develop business ideas, and execute plans.”
Utilizing low-code tools
Over 50% of South African employers are recruiting ICT skills overseas, indicating a massive demand for digital skills training. The most sought-after expertise is in software development. Zoho collaborates with micro, small, and medium enterprises to create digital literacy and provide critical skill development. Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager at Zoho Corporation, emphasizes the need to prepare children for future jobs requiring digital and development skills. Low-code platforms enable individuals with moderate technical knowledge to create complex business applications without lengthy and costly training.