10/09/2026
The jobs of 2030 are coming - but is South Africa truly ready?
By 2030, the World Economic Forum expects a net gain of 78 million new jobs globally in AI, big data, and green energy.
Yet, SA face a critical paradox: employers are battling severe skills shortages while our youth unemployment remains tragically high.
According to Leon Smalberger (CEO of AIE), the issue starts long before university:
The Foundational Gap: In the recent matric results, only 34% of candidates wrote pure math. Opting for math literacy closes the door to high-demand STEM careers before school even ends.
Strategy vs. Ex*****on: We have the policy documents, but access to quality digital resources remains highly uneven.
The Practical Fix: Enrolment numbers aren’t enough. Higher education must shift focus entirely toward practical competence and job outcomes.
The learners who will fill the roles of 2030 are sitting in classrooms today. We have a very narrow window to fix the pipeline.
(Read full article and link below)
https://aie.ac/blog/the-jobs-of-2030-are-coming-but-are-south-africans-ready