It is crucial for the workforce to adapt to these changes because the demands of the local and global economies are continually changing. The position of the nation in relation to global trends and a shortage in one of the currently in-demand industries have both been underlined in a newly issued report.
The demand for digital skills has exponentially grown in the past few years, this is a trend that some experts have pointed out exists globally and locally.
Recently, the Department of Science and Innovation released the 2023 South African Science, Technology And Innovation Indicators Report which revealed a decline in researchers and technicians in South Africa.
Additionally, the report has also indicated that the country’s innovation performance is falling behind other middle-income countries in outputs such as patents and high technology exports.
In an interview, University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
Our job as universities is not just to produce people with certificates and then they go out there but to also cater to the existing needs of the economy.
UCT has launched an innovative initiative for unemployed graduates and those who dropped out in previous years, as an opportunity for them to gain competitive skills in the current jobs market which has a high demand for digital skills in the workplace.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Dr. Blade Nzimande has shared that the government is said to be working to strengthen a future-ready workforce at both the foundational and further education levels.