The skills challenge: what needs to be done to get it right?

South Africa faces a significant skills challenge, evidenced by a staggering 33.5% unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2024, and an escalating shortage of competent technical skills, according to Stats SA. The pressing question is: what actions should we take to tackle the twin problems of high unemployment, especially among young people, and the technical skills shortage?

This problem is not unique to us. The skills challenge is a global problem, but each country must find its unique solutions to solve the challenge. Although we are not alone in this fight, our approach has not been effective. A disturbing trend is highlighted CESAs Semi-annual capacity and economic research from December 2023: An increase in migration patterns with highly skilled South African engineers moving to the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. These cyclical migration patterns are driven, among other things, by political and policy uncertainty, reminiscent of the post-1994 era. Addressing the reasons for this migration is critical. The primary concern is safety and security, both personal and professional. We cannot surrender to organized crime. Reports suggest that government agencies have capitulated to the construction mafia, inflating project costs to justify criminal activity. Our country cannot afford such excesses in infrastructure development. In addition, citizens are confronted with the high costs of personal security. The second concern is the high cost of education. Many students attend private schools to receive quality education, allowing access to college. We need to improve our public education system, starting with early childhood development (ECD). Currently, our focus and expenditure is on university education, neglecting the basic ECD. We must also address the shortcomings in our primary education system. Is our education system equipped to handle the technological future? For those who pass the exam, there is an overemphasis on academic education, with little attention to vocational training. Universities teach critical thinking, but not practical skills. The lack of vocational training, previously addressed by the successful Technikon system, is a significant gap. This system combined theory and practical application but was discontinued, leaving only TVET colleges or universities.

We are faced with a total skills mismatch and need to address the skills challenge holistically by creating a pipeline that starts with quality primary education. We are not doing enough to prepare students for technologically advanced careers.

The third challenge is the cyclical nature of infrastructure development, resulting in a ‘feast or famine’ scenario for businesses. During lean periods, technical skills are lost to other countries or industries. We call on the government to address this through careful planning of our project pipeline, stating that we need a steady flow of projects to maintain our technical skills in the country.

Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa

There are beacons of hope. The Western Cape Government has created an environment where technical professionals are respected and used for their competencies, attracting individuals from the private sector. This is reflected in the professional management and maintenance of the province’s infrastructure. The Western Cape’s success shows what can be achieved with the right environment and respect for professional skills. Given our current situation, there is no quick fix. We need a comprehensive national plan involving all stakeholders. Many people have the wisdom and desire to help. Meeting our challenges requires collaboration between the public and private sectors, supported by strong political will. By Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA)