PwC\u2019s 2022 Global Hopes and Fears survey found that so-called \u2018soft skills\u2019 \u2013 human capabilities such as leadership, creative thinking, problem solving and conflict resolution \u2013 will remain as important as ever.<\/p>\n
Participants within the workforce have now recognised that more skills are needed outside of having the requirements to do a specific job to remain productive and competent when disruptions such as the pandemic, supply chain changes, the green transition, and technological transformation occur.<\/p>\n
As a result, there has been a sharp focus on upskilling within South African organisations and a pivot from hard skills \u2013 such as job title, level, or educational qualifications \u2013 to soft skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis process of upskilling and pivoting to soft skills will lead to developing attitudes and aspirations that will equip people with the skills to continually adapt to and take part in the changing world of work,\u201d said PwC.<\/p>\n
According to PwC\u2019s survey, employee respondents felt the need to enhance technology skills and knowledge in automation, programming and coding, modelling and data analysis<\/strong> to thrive in a post-pandemic world.<\/p>\n The survey also noted that becoming a future-fit organisation requires an agile and employee-centric approach to work \u2013 where employees are valued for hard and soft skills.<\/p>\n PwC outlined some of the critical skills organisations in South Africa are looking for, which are:<\/p>\n The cause of the shift in skills<\/strong><\/p>\n The modern workplace has undergone significant changes in the past two years, brought about by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with an exponentially increasing digitisation drive.<\/p>\n Experts generally agree that the way business is conducted in South Africa has shifted permanently and that the working world \u2013 at least in terms of office jobs \u2013 will never return to the pre-Covid nine-to-five model of in-office employment.<\/p>\n This disruption of the workspace and shift to hybrid work has uprooted the needs and competencies required by both employees and employers to adapt to the new world of work post-Covid 19.<\/p>\n Employees are increasingly demanding work-from-home flexibility and are generally turning their noses up at\u00a0warnings about the negatives\u00a0\u2013 like the loss of team collaboration, presenteeism bias, and losing out on mentorship and training opportunities in the workplace \u2013 in favour of a better work-life balance.<\/p>\n The shift has disrupted not just the labour market and business operations but entire cities and provinces.<\/p>\n For example, Cape Town and other coastal towns have had to accommodate a growing number semigrants who can now do their jobs from home.<\/p>\n Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, assistant director-general and regional director for Africa for the International Labour Organisation, says the shift isn’t entirely negative for employers and that those who embrace the change will be able to expand their hiring processes rather than limit them.<\/p>\n \u201c(Businesses) now have the flexibility to find workers who best fit their business interests. They have begun to change their hiring criteria to include new groups of workers who had not been previously considered, including those who live far from their workplaces. This has expanded the scope for businesses to access the skills they want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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