Professor Zaheer Hamid, Director of the MANCOSA School of Education, explains that technology and artificial intelligence are causing significant disruptions to the future of work. He discusses the challenges and opportunities this presents and offers advice to students on navigating their educational and career choices for a hyper-competitive job market.
The world of work is changing at an unprecedented pace, shaped by technology and the growth of artificial intelligence. For parents and teens planning their educational journey, this can seem daunting. However, this disruption is also creating incredible new opportunities. Understanding the landscape of future careers in South Africa is the first step in preparing your child for success.
A report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights that the rapid adoption of new technologies is opening up new roles for workers with the right skills. For homeschooling families, the inherent flexibility of home education can be a significant advantage in cultivating these very skills.
The Shifting Landscape: A World of Digital Opportunity
The advance of machine learning, AI, and advanced robotics will have a major impact on South Africa’s workplaces. While this is disruptive, it also has the potential to create millions of high-quality jobs. A McKinsey report suggests that digitisation could create as many as 1.2 million jobs in SA by 2030.
This shift is creating a huge demand for new roles. Globally, online job postings for data scientists increased more than 40 times between 2012 and 2021. The demand for cybersecurity professionals, IT technicians, and software developers is also rising across all countries.
The challenge, as Professor Zaheer Hamid of MANCOSA points out, is how to prepare students for this hyper-competitive and ever-changing job market.
The In-Demand Skills for Tomorrow’s Jobs
Success in the future will depend on a combination of technical knowledge and adaptable, transferable skills.
1. High-Demand Technical Skills
The WEF report notes a dramatically increased demand for specific technical abilities11.
- Data Skills: Knowledge of machine learning, data science, and data visualisation is spreading rapidly across all sectors.
- Digital Marketing: Businesses are increasingly looking for people with social media management skills. In the UK and USA, demand for these skills spread up to 14 times faster than average skills between 2012 and 2021.
Homeschoolers can gain a head start by using online platforms like Coursera or edX to take certified courses in these fields, often at their own pace.
2. Essential Transferable Skills
Professor Hamid notes that employers are no longer placing employees in specific boxes15. They are looking for adaptable people with skills that can be used across an organisation16. These include:
- People management
- Change management
- Diversity management
- High-level cognitive skills
The self-directed nature of homeschooling high school in South Africa is excellent preparation for this, teaching teens to manage their own time, adapt to new learning topics, and solve problems independently.
Practical Career Guidance for Homeschooling Teens
Making subject choices in high school is a critical step. For homeschoolers, this extends to choosing a curriculum and learning path that aligns with future goals.
1. Build a Strong Foundation
“Core subjects such as language and numeracy skills will be a key component for any job,” advises Professor Hamid. A strong foundation in these areas is non-negotiable, regardless of the career path.
2. Seek Modern Guidance
Professor Hamid suggests that pupils sit down with guidance counsellors and people already in the job market to find out what skills are needed. For homeschoolers, this network can be built through:
- Online platforms that provide career guidance for teens, and assessment tools.
- Virtual mentorships with professionals in fields of interest.
- Following industry leaders and joining conversations on platforms like LinkedIn.
3. Choose Based on Future Demand
“Make school subject and university course choices based on this information, rather than on what looks good on paper,” says Professor Hamid. Researching successful, future careers in South Africa is crucial in a country facing a potential skills gap. The McKinsey report warns that unless more graduates take technology-related jobs, the demand for an additional 1.7 million employees with higher education by 2030 could go unmet.
4. Gain Practical Experience
The flexibility of homeschooling allows teens to gain real-world experience through internships, volunteer work, or even starting a small online business. Platforms like SA Youth can connect young people with entry-level work opportunities and skills training.
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