The need for digital fluency is increasing across all job roles.
South African employers report strong hiring expectations for technology roles in the coming year, according to a new study from CompTIA on the biggest challenges facing HR leaders.
The researchers found that seven out of every 10 expect to hire more technology workers to support business growth over the next year, while 43% plan to fill existing vacancies and only 9% expect tech layoffs.
Some 63% say the skill and talent level of their workforce is on target (100%) or very close to what their organization needs (90%). However, 37% report being at or below 80% of the target – indicating uneven skills maturity across employers.
These figures come from CompTIA's latest survey of human resources and learning and development (L&D) professionals. Workforce and learning trends Report.
The study, which is the sixth part of the annual series, found that workforce development remains a key focus among South African businesses.
Priorities for upskilling increase
More than eight out of every 10 (81%) said that upskilling and reskilling is a high or moderately high priority, while 85% prioritize internal mobility and career paths, and 86% highlight organizational culture and employee experience.
More employers are taking a structured approach to measuring potential, with 59% using formal skills assessments to identify gaps.
Budget investments reflect these priorities. Nearly three-quarters (74%) plan to increase learning spending, and another 14% expect it to remain stable – suggesting a continued commitment to talent development.
Digital fluency skills shape the future of work
The report says digital fluency – the ability to confidently use digital tools, data and emerging technologies – is increasingly essential in all job roles.
Nearly 95% of South African businesses said this skill was becoming 'moderately' or 'very' important. The figure was higher than the equivalent in all other regions included in the comprehensive report – 84% in Australia, 83% in Benelux, 68% in Canada, 69% in Japan, 83% in the UK and 85% in the US.
The priorities for building and developing digital fluency skills among employees in South African businesses were (in order of most) as follows:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- data analysis
- Cyber security
- business applications
- Tools and Hardware
In contrast, training budgets are expected to increase the most:
- Cyber security
- aye
- data and analysis
- project management
- Leadership
Employers identify gaps in training outcomes
Skills gaps, skills shortages and skill mismatches arise from a combination of strategic and structural issues. Human resources professionals in South Africa reported the following combination of factors:
- Seventy-two percent of respondents said that skills development approaches fell short on 'hard technical and data skills'.
- Sixty percent of reported skill development approaches were falling short of 'soft skills'.
- 63 percent said that 'competency and performance on the job' were not given adequate attention.
- Seventy percent said higher education 'does not adequately prepare graduates'.
- Seventy-two percent claimed that training/instructional courses were 'not tailored to employer needs'.
Only four out of every 10 respondents (41%) said that the lack of quality trainers is a hindrance to successful training and desired training outcomes. Other barriers include training option ‘overload’ (41%) with so many providers available, staff fatigue (40%) and ‘stale’/‘outdated’ curriculum (37%).
97% of South African employers said that industry-recognized certifications were an important factor in validating Knowledge, Skills and Tasks (KST), which is a model used in human resources, education and talent management to define and assess requirements for a job or learning purpose.
The findings suggest:
- Employers are generally confident in the potential of the workforce.
- Digital transformation continues to be a hiring catalyst.
- Upskilling and certification are at the heart of the workforce plan.
- A capacity gap remains in more than one-third of organizations.
Training approaches need better alignment and delivery.
*About this research
CompTIA's workforce and learning trends study was conducted through a quantitative survey conducted online through January 2025. A total of 1 109 human resources (HR) and learning and development (L&D) professionals completed the survey,
The United States component of the study resulted in 562 responses, with the remaining responses distributed almost equally across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, and the countries of the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg).
To learn more about the hopes and concerns of South Africa's HR leaders, download CompTIA's latest Workforce and learning trends CompTIA's detailed report or visit research libraryIncluding insights from job seekers, IT professionals, community college students and others.