Experts across the board have predicted that the demand for digital and software development will continue to skyrocket. In fact, research by Statista revealed that annual mobile app revenues are set to reach $935 billion in revenue by 2023.
Gary Bannatyne, MD and co-founder of The Digital Academy said, ’This is just one of the examples around demand for talent. Others include robotics, data skills and UX/UI skills to name a few. With this kind of exponential growth, it will certainly be challenging for some organisations to keep up with the demand.’
According to Bannatyne, this is why Level Up, an institution that was borne out of The Digital Academy, introduced a six-month course, called WorkReady, that is not only highly affordable, but was created to transfer all the skills today’s entrants require to enter the workforce and land the jobs that will start their journey into today’s fast-paced digital economy.
He said that this is largely due to the talent shortage that many businesses are experiencing when searching for software developers to match their requirements. ‘The need for software development skills is soaring, and in a competitive job market, applicants must have the skills that organisations are looking to recruit for if they hope to be successful in their application.’
Savvy businesses understand that to remain competitive in this digital era, they need to be innovative, drive operational efficiency, and offer the best customer experience. And because consumers are growing increasingly dependent on their mobile devices for personal and business use, this means offering them the apps they want.
‘This is the future of education in SA today. At Level Up, while we would never disparage the value of university education, these institutions have encouraged a process that too often does not lead to meaningful employment for students. What they need today are real skills, and ones that see them walking into gainful employment.’
He said that there are many new jobs and roles that emerged out of the digital age, and a university degree simply is not a requirement for many of them. ‘In addition, South African entities across the board are searching for the skills they need to help them with their digital transformation efforts, so they can remain competitive and ahead of the curve.’
Any student who would like to apply has to have a little background in the digital space, for example, basic programming, system administration or design. All applicants are also tested for aptitude and their ability to learn and upskill themselves in a modern working environment.
