Resolve the work-ready versus role-ready tension

The ICT skills shortage is a major issue for companies worldwide, particularly in South Africa. According to a 2025 Critical Skills Survey, 89% of companies report that unfilled critical roles are directly affecting productivity. The skills most in demand are those of software developers, engineers, quality engineers, data scientists, and IT engineers. However, finding and retaining these skilled workers is becoming increasingly difficult as the talent pool remains limited.

Instead of simply hiring more talent, companies should focus on building skills within their own organizations. Traditional training methods are expensive and time-consuming, often leading to a loss of productivity during the upskilling process. The solution lies in integrating training directly into the workplace. By doing so, companies can avoid paying twice – once for the training and again for the time spent onboarding.

When training is conducted within the business environment, the person being trained learns the company's specific stack, standards, and delivery cycles simultaneously. This approach ensures that the candidate becomes role-ready, contributing to real work from the start and delivering immediate returns on investment.

In contrast to traditional hiring and training models, role-ready candidates are already familiar with the company's operations, making onboarding unnecessary. Their time to productivity is significantly shorter, and their skills surpass those of candidates recruited through standard hiring methods. This method not only resolves the skills shortage but also provides a sustainable solution for youth training and skills development, addressing the challenges South Africa faces with rising unemployment.

As the demand for scarce skills continues to grow, companies must adopt innovative ways to integrate training and build skills within their organizations.