Most sought-after ICT skills in SA
Advanced ICT skills – like cloud computing expertise, project management, business analysis, IT systems solutions, next generation networking and online media – will be in high demand over the next few years. This is according to Vodacom, Telkom, Internet Solutions and MTN.
Themba Nyathi, chief HR officer at MTN, said that it is hard to find suitably qualified and skilled advanced ICT professionals.
“We refer to internet solutions design, converged billing, latest network configurations, combination of advanced electrical engineering and solutions driven skills, project management and business analysis” said Nyati. “At MTN we have hundreds of open positions on such skills.”
Nyati expects that ICT delivery related skills and related professions will be in demand over the next few years.
“Again project management and business analysis professions will be highly relevant for MTN going forward,” said Nyati.
Internet Solutions HR executive, Soraya Bagus said that there is a strong demand for individuals who are capable of looking at new technology in a strategic way, and understanding how it can integrate with existing tech in a business to contribute to an overall client solution.
“The ability to craft a solution, which requires both an intimate understanding of the client’s business, as well as true depth of knowledge of the available technologies, and how they integrate, is a skill which is very difficult to come across,” says Bagus.
Bagus added that the advent of cloud has created huge demand for cloud architects, as well as storage and virtualization engineers. “This demand is set to keep growing for the next few years,” says Bagus.
Thami Msubo, Telkom’s Chief of Human Resources, says that it is a challenge to acquire, develop and retain talent and skills in various areas of the IT and telecoms market.
The challenging fields, says Msumbu, are IT systems solutions and integration; data centre operations; new generation technology and systems; new generation network solutions; regulatory and ICT policy and compliance; business intelligence and customer analytics; and business and market development.
Vodacom’s chief human resources officer, Mpho Nkeli said that they have difficulty recruiting engineering professionals, digital and online media experts, e-commerce skills and business intelligence professionals.
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