As lockdown is pushing up South Africa’s unemployment rate, local and international
stakeholders have upped their game to turn the tide. The focus is on creating
employment, through enabling tens of thousands of individuals, including young
people, with the in-demand digital skills they need to compete for the thousands of
hard to fill vacancies – free of charge.
When looking at South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic problems, unemployment
– particularly amongst youths – is one of the most urgent issues. The government
estimates that 58% of 15 to 24-year-olds are not in jobs, education, or training. Creating
more economic opportunities is only part of the solution.
“The fact is there are thousands and thousands of positions available. The problem is
that employers struggle to fill these vacancies because they can’t find candidates with
the right skill sets,” says Onyi Nwaneri, CEO at Afrika Tikkun Services (ATS),
Johannesburg-based recruitment, placement, and training company specialised in
corporate transformation.
Digital skills, in particular, are in high demand. According to last year’s ICT skills gap
survey by the Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering and the Institute of
Information Technology Professionals in South Africa, shortages are most prominent in
software development, computer network and system engineering, ICT systems analysis,
programming, ICT security, and business analysis.
Nwaneri stresses these and other digital abilities are not just in demand among IT
employers. “As the global and South African economies are becoming increasingly
digitised, digital skills have become more relevant in all industries. That includes finance,
engineering, and business management but also education and travel,” she says.
For this reason, ATS has partnered with multinational technology company Microsoft in
its Global Skills Initiative (GSI). As a response to lockdown-induced economic crises and
job losses worldwide, this global programme intends to empower 25 million people
around the world with crucial digital skills so they can take part in the digital economy.
“In South Africa, we aim to recruit at least 50,000 unemployed, unskilled, under-skilled
and economically marginalised individuals, including youths, and set them up for life so
they can take part in the growing digital economy,” says Nwaneri.
Of these recruits, 20,000 will go to the next round, in which we will determine their best
learning pathway and support them to access and complete at least one of the many
courses available. “The remaining candidates will benefit from selecting and following
their learning pathways on their own,” she adds, noting this trajectory is offered free of
charge.
“We are also offering to pay for or reimburse 1500 unemployed people to complete
Microsoft vendor certified exams in three technical pathways – Software Developer,
Data Analyst, and Network Administrator pathways. We will help a minimum of 500 find
jobs or work experience placements, and assist 50 entrepreneurs,” Nwaneri explains,
noting that interested individuals should register on the Global Skills Initiative website.
“Each applicant’s needs, interests, and aspirations will be assessed allowing them to be
channelled to the correct learning pathway.”
Nwaneri says Afrika Tikkun Services got involved in GSI as its fit with its Cradle to Career
360º development model. This youth upliftment strategy empowers disadvantaged
South Africans from the age of two until they are independent and employed adults
with education, core and technical skills, and employment or self-employment – while
helping to meet their nutrition, health, and social needs.
“What makes the GSI a powerful development and empowerment solution is that it taps
into the human resources South Africa already has at its disposal, training individuals
and providing them with the right skills to fill the vacancies we can’t fill. This is more
efficient than creating new jobs, especially considering the extremely tough economic
climate we are finding ourselves in.” For more information visit http://www.gsisa.tech/
