IT sector weathering through the unemployment storm

Nerike Combrink
The current job market is showing the highest unemployment rate in more than a decade.
Now, more than ever, those entering the job market are uncertain of their future. Aaron Skonnard, CEO and renowned author, advises that an ongoing commitment to professional training and development is the key to your future.
This could be the reason why many young professionals find themselves stuck in entry-level positions; as they often have limited professional knowledge or limited opportunities for career growth within their current field.
However, research over the past two years has shown that skilled professionals in the Information and Technology (IT) sector are excelling.
Career Junction’s executive summary (April 2017) indicates that this might be as a result of the growing gap between the number of jobs available and the number of employees qualified to fill those positions. With over 27 per cent of job postings allocated to IT professionals, the sector is the second highest in demand, but the current job market supplies less than a third of that demand.
According to Skonnard, a larger set of skills sets you apart as ‘a bigger player in your entire industry, which widens your world to new career opportunities’.
This is particularly true in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as Career Junction’s review of the top 10 sectors (2017), indicates that skills in this particular field remain among South Africa’s most sought-after skill sets.
Given the high demand for ICT professionals, it has also become one of the country’s top paying sectors. It-Web’s IT survey 2016 indicated that 82 per cent of South African participants received a salary increase in the last twelve months.
Itcareerfinder.com states that it pays to have ‘a balance of technical, business and communication skills’, and that it is ‘critical to ensure success and upward mobility’ in the industry.
However, some find it near to impossible to constantly update their skill set or even think about going into a new career. Skonnard agrees that young professionals are ‘swamped at work’ and unclear on how to manage a full-time job as well as continuous learning. When you are a working professional, you need a valuable education that suits your needs and your schedule as full-time studies is not always an option.
Pearson Institute of Higher Education and CTI specialises in preparing their students for the working environment. They have identified the need of young working professionals to improve their skill set while earning a salary.
As of July, the Potchefstroom Campus is launching new evening classes, as a part-time solution, to accommodate working professionals. Among a large range of other courses, they host short learning programmes such as IT Engineering, Comprehensive Programming and Internet Development Specialist via a Mastery Learning Methodology (MLM).
This method allows students to pace their studies to suit their experience and ability, on a full-time or part-time basis. You can start any week of the year and complete the course at your own time and pace.
This is the perfect way for those who want to enter the IT industry while maintaining their day-job.
If you are interested in becoming a bigger player in the industry, join them at their open evening from 18:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, 29 June. For more info, contact Karen; karent@cti.ac.za to find out more about how you can ensure a better future.