The Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) industry could be one of the most important sources of employment in South Africa to create new jobs and business opportunities. This sector is one of the country’s biggest opportunities to counteract the official 66.5% youth unemployment rate.
A study conducted by Genesis Global Business Services from April to July 2020 points out that digital services can help fuel economic recovery and growth through digital and ICT skills training particularly focused on South African youth. The study suggests that digital skills and services have the potential to pave the way for over 66 000 jobs in SA’s ICT sector, two-thirds of which are entry-level roles.
InzaloEMS’s Learnership Programmes have trained over 5000 youth
InzaloEMS’s Learnership programmes have trained over 5000 youth over the past 5 years in software development and business skills. Graham Reid, Senior Manager: Skills Development Training at InzaloEMS says their learnership programmes seek to address the skills gap. The courses which the Interns complete assist in making them employable and InzaloEMS companies absorb as many trainees as possible. “Currently we have 12 employees who started out in the learnership programme and are now actively employed in our company. In some instances, a learner may find employment in their own municipality. That is first prize for InzaloEMS,” says Reid.
“InzaloEMS trains interns in an array of IT skills and we are very proud of the programme,” states Reid. “This is where learnerships play a pivotal role, and where businesses can make a fundamental difference by investing into growing and developing youth in practical skills and knowledge needed in the digital economy. These types of short-course training and mentoring that InzaloEMS offers is a way to upskill those who cannot access a full-length university degree. These micro-credentials stand them in good stead for entry-level jobs.”
Cody Fielding, one of the learners from the programme, says, “I have always known that my future lies in computers. With the new skills and workplace experience, I will gain from my learnership, I hope to one day start my own IT company and create employment for others like me.”
The skillset of people in South Africa can be grown to help improve the economy
The skillset of people in South Africa can be grown to help improve the economy. Such progress has to be driven by partnerships across government, business and ordinary South Africans through leadership, innovation and learning. The transfer of skills must be a motivated goal in any business today. Responsible and serious thought should go into all corporate social responsibility programmes with the employment of youth in mind.
Technical skills are some of the scarcest skills in South Africa
IT skills are some of the scarcest skills in South Africa but it needs the support of technical infrastructure like fibre, system development skills, local ICT support as well as cyber governance. All high schools need computer labs to support Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) development. This will require strong IT leadership across all sector levels to plan and implement 4IR strategies.
Unemployment is a damaging psychological experience
European studies show that among the working-age population, one of the most damaging psychological experiences is unemployment. Many previous studies have confirmed the devastating effects of unemployment on individual well-being and health. Unemployment has a lasting and aggravating effect. We must not let our youth lose hope. This makes these training programmes all the more vital, with the digital economy being a key pathway to job creation.
4IR and IT learnerships bring a wealth of opportunities for SA youth
Skills in IT present a wealth of opportunities for South Africa’s youth to thrive. It must be used as an engine of growth to open major opportunities for change in our country. We want to be able to celebrate the changing ICT landscape in South Africa with the mass arrival of a wave of Generation Z ICT professionals in the workplace, which will make a considerable dent in SA youth unemployment figures.
Reid concludes, “I got into training because skills development feeds my passion and warms my heart. Just the fact that we are making a difference in peoples’ lives, uplifting communities and giving local government the tools for greater efficiency, economic development and premium service delivery, feeds my soul. The success of the Mnquma municipality is a perfect example of what InzaloEMS contributes to building the South African economy.”