Women and men with the right skills are active agents of change, and the evolution of skills and technology can empower people and create job growth in South Africa.<\/p>\n
This is according to Liquid Telecom SA chief executive officer, Reshaad Sha, who was speaking at the 2019 MyBroadband Conference.<\/p>\n
Sha said that Liquid aims to help create a scenario where South Africa’s citizens can be \u201caccomplished game changers\u201d-\u00a0 by merging the rights skills with empowerment actions.<\/p>\n
He said that the company wants to see a scenario where people and skills are aligned, creating accomplished game changers.<\/p>\n
A dead end scenario would be one where people have entitlement to a certain role, but do not have the appropriate skills to fill that role.<\/p>\n
Sha said that new technologies \u2013 such as machine learning, AI, and advanced robotics \u2013 will also impact millions of jobs in South Africa.<\/p>\n
These technologies will, however, create hundreds of millions of jobs across the world in the next 10 years.<\/p>\n
Businesses must consider the following three questions when it comes to new technology:<\/p>\n
Complicating matters in South Africa, is the lackluster state of its GDP.<\/p>\n
There has been a significant decline in growth over the past decade, and currently our economy is barely growing, Sha pointed out.<\/p>\n
He said that Liquid Telecom is driving skills growth with its own initiatives, which will ultimately benefit the economy and the company having access to skilled employees.<\/p>\n
Its extensive fibre network across South Africa and Africa allows it to work towards a connected continent and grow the skills base among citizens where its network touches, Sha said.<\/p>\n
This includes partnering with universities and learning institutions to help students understand the benefits of new technologies.<\/p>\n