South African Workers Ready to Reskill for GenAI Era

South African workers are demonstrating a remarkable willingness to adapt as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) begins to reshape the job market, according to a new global survey. The study, which polled more than 150,000 respondents across 188 countries, reveals that over 90% of South African workers are prepared to reskill in response to the anticipated disruptions brought about by GenAI.

The comprehensive report, titled “How Work Preferences Are Shifting in the Age of GenAI“, was published recently by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Network, The Stepstone Group, and local partner CareerJunction. It forms part of the 2024 edition of the “Decoding Global Talent” series, which has been tracking global workforce trends since 2014.

Jacqueline Foster-Mutungu, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, Johannesburg, noted, “We are seeing an evolution of employee views toward AI, and a crucial recognition that a commitment to continuous reskilling will ensure long-term employability.”

The survey findings paint a picture of a workforce that is both cautious and proactive. Three-quarters of global respondents believe that GenAI will bring some level of disruption to the workplace. However, this concern is balanced by a strong sense of adaptability, particularly among South African workers.

In South Africa, the adoption of GenAI varies across sectors. While digital, media, and IT professionals lead in GenAI adoption, mirroring global trends, the uptake in education and training (39%) and research and laboratory roles (30%) lags behind global averages. Interestingly, the public service and administration sector in South Africa shows slightly higher GenAI adoption (37%) compared to the global average (33%).

South African workers primarily use GenAI for studies, learning and research (47%), writing tasks (44%), and administrative duties (40%). In their personal lives, they leverage the technology for skills development (60%), accessing general knowledge (50%), and supporting career advancement (49%).

However, the study also highlighted some concerns. South African users reported challenges with slow internet speeds, technical issues, and difficulties in crafting effective prompts for AI systems. Moreover, a higher proportion of South African users, particularly those new to GenAI, tend to use AI-generated content without significant review or modification compared to their global counterparts.

The report also sheds light on changing work preferences in the face of technological advancements. For South African workers, the top three considerations when evaluating job opportunities are learning and career development, job security, and opportunities to lead and take responsibility.

“In a tight labour market where talent remains a critical and scarce resource, it is important that employers attract talent from various sources and channels,” Foster-Mutungu emphasised. “There is a major appetite for reskilling in South Africa and as such, reskilling existing employees or looking at talent with unusual backgrounds are solutions they should increasingly consider.”

The global perspective reveals regional variations in workplace priorities. Job security topped the list for workers in East and South Asia, while learning and development were paramount in the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. North American respondents prioritised financial compensation, while Europeans placed the highest value on work-life balance.

As the world of work continues to evolve, the readiness of South African workers to adapt and reskill stands out as a positive indicator of the country’s potential to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of GenAI. This proactive stance may well position South Africa’s workforce to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven global economy.

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