What Kind Of Skills Are Companies In South Africa Looking For?

If you want to work in a (big) company in South Africa, there are certain skills one must possess to be worth the consideration.

Thanks to the availability of some insightful reports, we are able to streamline everything and look at ones firms like Microsoft are willing to have on their team.

Per a new report put together by Microsoft and the International Data Corporation, companies based in the Southern African country are struggling to find and hire the right kind of talent, thanks to scarcity.

At the national level, the data shows that the largest skills gap can be found in security-related and data protection skills. In more ways than one, that is a testament to the increased awareness among businesses regarding the unrelenting threat of cybercrime.

According to the report, 53 percent of companies are already lacking the necessary skill set, while 59 percent are in need of more security specialists in about 2 years’ time.

Meanwhile, 49 percent of companies on the country are on the lookout for capable hands in cloud computing.

Over the next 2 years, the demand for cloud skills is anticipated to grow substantially, especially as 68 percent of firms admit that they are likely to need more of such specialists in future.

“The biggest jump in skills requirements will be in Robotic process automation (a key enabler for DX) with a 22 percent jump in terms of today’s requirements (26 percent) and future requirements (47 percent),” Microsoft said.

“Given cloud’s dominance in terms of current deployment (76 percent), it is no surprise that there is a significant need for cloud skills today (49 percent) that will continue in the future (68 percent).”

Speaking on the report, Mark Walker, Associate Vice President of the IDC, said that currently the biggest challenge in acquiring these skills comes less from a lack of qualifications, but more from a general lack of expertise.

Featured Image: CEO Today