Gen Z’s lack of traditional skills is holding back their career potential; online learning can fix that
By Divesh Sooka
In today's rapidly evolving digital world, mastering both traditional productivity tools and emerging technologies is essential for the success of the next generation of workers.
Despite being digitally native, Gen Z often lag older generations when it comes to using essential workplace productivity tools like spreadsheets and word processors.
Research from SAP, supported by anecdotal evidence, shows that Gen Z, having not grown up with the evolution of technology, struggles with tools like the Microsoft Office suite. Salesforce data supports this: only 32% of Gen Z employees reported having the digital skills needed in the workplace, or a clear way to obtain them.
This marks a defining difference between Millennials and the next generation. Millennials were raised in traditional office environments, complete with set work hours, dress codes, and clear work-life boundaries. In contrast, today’s remote work culture has shifted these norms – it's now common for people to attend meetings in their PJs or without even turning on their camera.
This shift has blurred the boundaries of the workday and introduced the challenge of maintaining productivity in a home environment, where formal office setups are often lacking.
In South Africa, the SA Revenue Service, for some unknown reason, decided that – even if people had to work from home – they had to provide proof of an office, and the dining room table didn’t count.
Similarly, tertiary education once had fixed schedules and holidays. “Schools out for Summer” as Alice Cooper put it in the 1972 song. That no longer applies if a learner is working at their own pace with no distinct stop and start.
Online education has changed everything and brought with it the ability for students to learn in their own time and at their own pace. This meant students had the capability to ensure that they could inculcate concepts before moving onto the next concept.
However, this flexibility comes with a downside. Learners without self-motivation are at a distinct disadvantage because there is no-one looking over their shoulder to ensure that they actually do the work. There is no lecturer marking them down for not handing papers in on time.
Developing skills for the work environment
This is where quality online education comes into play. By teaching students practical skills, discipline, and self-motivation, we can prepare them for the workplace. Many young people, including those from the so-called "lost generation" (students whose final year exams were disrupted four years ago) need this preparation now more than ever.
Selecting an institution that offers a structured curriculum, while still allowing students to fully grasp concepts, provides practical benefits.
These include aspects such as discipline: the requirement to sit down each day and study. Other key skills are also imparted, such as how to draft a CV, appropriate dress codes, as well as the so-called soft skills that enable new hires to interact with their colleagues in a proper manner as well as understand a company’s culture.
It’s also important to teach students how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to complement, not replace, traditional research methods. These tools can enhance productivity and creativity, but learners must still verify information, critically assess sources, and maintain originality. By using AI as an assistant rather than a substitute, students can boost their efficiency while upholding academic and professional standards.
When combined with Gen Z’s natural ability to adopt new tools like AI with hands-on experience in essential skills, we can help them thrive in the modern, globalised workforce.
As Africa's population grows and urbanises rapidly, these transferable skills are crucial. Job growth in Africa is hardly sufficient to meet a growing population.
The World Bank estimates that Africa's working age population will grow by 450 million people by 2035, but only 3million jobs will be created each year. Meanwhile, between eight million and 11 million young Africans will enter the labour market annually, according to a World Economic Forum report.
What if we equipped three million Africans by 2035 with a combination of traditional skills and modern, high demand tech expertise? By teaching them through hands-on experience in fields like programming, data science, and business, within a supportive network that mentors and guides them, we could empower them to succeed.
Africa would be unstoppable, taking our inherent “can do” attitude across borders. Armed with both traditional and modern skills, they’d drive economic growth locally and globally, while uplifting entire communities.
Empowered individuals would not only contribute to their economies but also reduce poverty within their families. With the right education and support, Africa’s workforce could reshape the future – turning potential into prosperity and positioning the continent as a global leader.
Divesh Sooka, ALX South Africa General Manager.
BUSINESS REPORT