As the global recession takes its toll, organisations seem to be losing interest in skills training, says Adam Rabie, divisional MD of Bytes Technology Group.
But Rabie warns the skills shortage is still very much a crisis, and that responding to tough times by cutting back on training costs is a recipe for disaster.
Giving the keynote address at the ITA Skills Development Summit in Midrand yesterday, Rabie observed that the skills shortage is no longer a priority at every management meeting, on the list of government's critical issues or in the media.
He blamed the economic downturn, noting that many organisations have announced restructuring plans over the past few months, with some even retrenching staff. “Skills demand is not really at the top of most organisations' agendas these days,” said Rabie.
However, he stressed that the skills shortage has not gone away. “The current economic conditions have just dropped the demand for skilled resources, but the shortage of skills in SA remains more serious than may be believed.” Rabie argued that the full effect of the shortage is yet to be felt. “It is still the biggest challenge faced by the economy, the recession notwithstanding.”
Prepare to act
According to Rabie, the current downturn will definitely bottom out and the present trading environment will improve sooner or later.
“We can count on it that when this happens, the skills demand will once again increase,” Rabie said, adding that SA would suffer if not prepared for this likelihood. “We have to ensure now that we have an adequate supply of skilled IT resources when the recession is over.”
He acknowledged the problem would not disappear overnight but stressed the need for action. “We need to start somewhere and stop just talking about the skills shortage problem.”
Rabie also believes the main issues contributing to the skills shortage include limited awareness among youth on what a career in IT offers and a lack of young people enrolling in IT programmes at tertiary institutions.
He added that “the wrong profile of individuals” may be enrolling in IT, resulting in high dropout rates, coupled with a mismatch in output from tertiary institutions and the actual requirements of industry.
Rabie remains hopeful that with collective positive participation, it is possible to come up with effective ways of addressing the IT skills crisis and emerging from the recession stronger than before.
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