The science of work-integrated learning to address the digital skills crisis

By Ursula Fear, Salesforce senior talent programme manager

Organisations and industries across Africa are ramping up their transformation efforts as they look to emerging technology to enable agility, improve efficiency and enhance operations.

However, as much as we talk about the need for intensive ICT investment into infrastructure and the technology that will support Africa’s engagement in artificial intelligence, this will not happen without the human infrastructure to support the technology.

Simply put, the market cannot grow without the skills to develop, implement and make use of technology solutions. We must have the right kind of skills, infrastructure and partnerships to service the growing demand for digital services.

The solution lies in work-integrated learning (WIL), a model that blends academic theory with practical work experience, providing students and workers with real-world applications of the digital skills they need.

We lack the right skills

South Africa is currently not only facing high levels of unemployment, sitting at 32.9%, but also has a skills shortage of approximately 77 000 high-value digital jobs while outsourcing 300 000 tech jobs to overseas workers according to an ICT survey by Umuzi.

This clearly shows that organisations are struggling to find the right skills to enable digital innovation as widening skills gaps results in a workforce not being able to meet business requirements. This is particularly burdensome as, beyond technical skills, more complex 4IR skills such as leadership and management, complex problem-solving, negotiation skills, project management and critical thinking are also in demand.

If left unaddressed, this skills crisis could significantly stunt South Africa’s economic growth and increase unemployment rates further. This issue calls for an urgent response – one that hinges on collaboration between corporate South Africa, government and academic institutions.

Updating our approach to skills learning to enable meaningful, practical learning

According to the Salesforce State of IT Report 2025, developers are not only looking to AI agents to unlock greater efficiency and productivity, but 92% believe agentic AI will help them advance in their careers. Some developers, however, believe that they, as well as their organisations, need more training and resources to build and deploy a digital workforce of AI agents.

More than 80% of developers believe AI knowledge will soon be a baseline skill for their profession, but over half don’t feel their skillsets are fully prepared for the agentic era. Survey respondents identified training on technical AI skills and redefining current roles as the most important areas for employers to provide support.

The fast pace of progress in the digital world means that the gap between available jobs and qualified candidates will continue to widen, leaving the country in a critical position if we do not ensure that skills keep pace.

Salesforce, for example, releases three major software updates annually, meaning that even recent graduates could find themselves out of touch with the latest technological advances soon after earning their degrees. That’s why workers need continuous, hands-on training that complements academic learning.

However, current training infrastructure, shaped by regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the National Qualification Framework (NQF), is often too slow and rigid to meet this need.

Part of the problem lies in an outdated mindset. Many academic programs prioritise theoretical knowledge, but digital skills have a shelf life of only about five years before becoming outdated. A diploma or certificate alone no longer guarantees job readiness in such a rapidly shifting environment. Instead, businesses and educational institutions need to work hand-in-hand to design training programmes that incorporate the latest industry practices, foster continuous learning and adapt to ever-changing technological demands.

By linking classroom education with actual work practices, work-integrated learning builds skills in a meaningful and relevant way. This approach places students and workers in environments where they can apply their knowledge directly, gaining the kind of experience that makes them more adaptable and versatile in the workforce. In sectors where innovation happens at lightning speed, WIL ensures that individuals stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments.

However, for WIL to be effective, it requires significant collaboration between businesses, government and academic institutions. Partnerships will be key to creating training programmes that reflect the real-world demands of the digital economy, emphasising on-the-job learning, adaptability and upskilling.

Salesforce, for example, has been at the forefront of building relevant skills in collaboration with several notable organisations. Our partnership with The Collective X aims to eliminate the estimated R10 billion a year spent on outsourcing tech jobs while our partnership with ALX helps to train cohorts of learners across Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. One of the most impactful examples of work-integrated learning, however, is Salesforce’s partnership with CapaCITI through the Enabling Women in Technology Salesforce Skills programme. This initiative has recruited 100 young women to receive dualistic training in Salesforce administration and applications, combining technical knowledge with professional development.

To step into a new future, we must be prepared

The future of work demands a shift in thinking. We need to acknowledge that education is no longer a one-time achievement but a continuous process. Embracing work-integrated learning as the foundation of digital skills development would help to ensure that South Africa’s workforce is equipped to navigate and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

If we fail to embed practical experience into our training programmes, we will struggle to keep pace with global digital transformation. But, by fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, and by shifting our mindset toward continuous learning and practical application, we can tackle the digital skills crisis and unlock new opportunities for economic growth and job creation across the continent.