Instead of being a distant idea from Silicon Valley or science fiction, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how we think about work and shaping the skills needed for future jobs. The global economy is evolving because of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This shift causes South African parents to question whether their child is being prepared for a job market that is increasingly influenced by AI.
If AI is already here, how can we catch up?
South Africa risks falling behind if it doesn’t act quickly on the challenges (and opportunities) posed by AI. The country’s youth unemployment rate is alarmingly high at 45.5% in Q1 2025. This illustrates a disconnect between what traditional education provides and what the job market needs.
The World Economic Forum estimates that 97 million new jobs could be created worldwide by 2025 due to automation and AI. Data analysts, machine learning specialists, and software developers will be in high demand. If South Africa is prepared, it could tap into billions in economic value and closing the local generative AI skills gap could lead to over R1 trillion in growth by 2030.
However, most schools are still training students for a 20th-century economy. The GIBS report on “AI: Is South Africa Ready?” highlights how the education system is falling behind, with little focus on computational thinking, coding, or data literacy. These skills are now seen as essential for the future.
Kristen Kennedy, Programme Manager and Lead Lecturer in Web Development at Le Wagon Cape Town, has seen firsthand how adaptable digital skills can rapidly transform someone’s career trajectory. “We’re seeing a major skills shift. Coding, for example, is becoming the new literacy. Learners who grasp how to build, understand, and work alongside AI tools will be lightyears ahead of their peers,” says Kennedy. Le Wagon is an internationally renowned coding school that offers intensive bootcamps.
Le Wagon’s Cape Town campus offers immersive bootcamps in web development and data analytics, equipping students with the skills to enter tech roles in just a few months. While its programmes are aimed at adults, Kennedy believes that preparing the next generation must start much earlier.
“We have to cultivate problem-solving, adaptability, and collaboration, all of which are critical in an AI economy,” she explains.
South Africa has the unique chance to leapfrog traditional development hurdles by embracing AI. Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, in article “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work,” argues that Africa’s youth bulge and mobile-first economy can position it as a global AI player, but only if governments and families act fast.
A promising example is the partnership between the Department of Basic Education and the University of Johannesburg, piloting coding and robotics in public schools. Still, such initiatives remain the exception rather than the norm.
Here are Kennedy’s tips for parents do today to ensure their child is AI-ready:
- Expose them early to digital tools. Even if formal coding classes aren’t available, encourage your child to use free platforms like Scratch, Tynker, or Code.org to explore computational thinking.
- Choose schools that innovate. Look for schools or after-school programmes that prioritise STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts, and maths) and digital literacy.
- Model curiosity and adaptability. AI requires lifelong learning. Parents who embrace change and model learning behaviours pass on a mindset that helps children stay relevant.
- Balance is key. While tech skills are vital, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and creativity remain irreplaceable by machines.
Preparing our children for the AI economy starts at home. As Kennedy notes, “The pace of change is fast, but not impossible to keep up with. Parents, educators, and institutions must work together to reimagine learning in the age of AI.”
