As unemployment is eating the vital of the fledgling South African economy, many youngsters are taking to coding in the midst of severe shortages of those skills in the country. Non-availability of experienced coding professionals is affecting major sectors like banks, financial institutions etc. Employment agencies feel that there are job opportunities for specially skilled persons like computer professionals. But the youngsters joining the ranks of unemployed are often unskilled or semi-skilled and their employability is pretty low. According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa two-thirds of the youths in the age group of 15 and 34 are unemployed.
Coding is the computer language used to develop apps, websites and software. All major technologies are running on codes, such as Facebook, Instagram, smartphones, browsers, blogs etc. The increased interests in coding also signify the importance being assigned to digital economy in South Africa. Technology orientation seems to be the major plank for creating gainful employment in the country. There are many coding institutions which have sprung up in the recent times, which impart how to develop websites, write programs and create apps.
Importantly, there is a spread effect for such programs. Coders normally would like to set up startups and become entrepreneurs. If one person becomes an entrepreneur, he or she, in turn, will employ at least 10 people as programmers, technical personnel, coders etc. Many feel the rising unemployment in South Africa can be tackled only through such schemes, which can have a snowball effect on other sectors like manufacturing, financial services, logistics etc. Experts are of the opinion that if South Africa can groom 100,000 skilled coders across the country, who can take the risk of setting up a venture of their own. They can together provide employment to one million people. The institutions which have come up are mostly supported by financial institutions. They sponsor students and later provide them with internship placements to train and get mentorship.
