The demand for technology skills is rising sharply across Africa, with every organization surveyed in a recent report reporting an increased need over the past 12 months. This marks a significant shift from the previous year, when 7% of companies said their tech skill requirements had remained unchanged.
According to the report, 50% of organizations across the continent said the need for tech talent has increased significantly, while the other half reported a moderate rise. The trend is especially strong in South Africa, where 63% of organizations reported a sharp increase. Kenya (43%) and Nigeria (40%) also showed high levels of demand.
While artificial intelligence and Generative AI skills are growing in importance, cybersecurity has become the most in-demand skill on the continent. Some 86% of organizations cited cybersecurity as a top priority, followed by AI development at 85% and Generative AI at 83%. That’s a marked increase from the 2022/2023 survey, when only 63% of companies listed cybersecurity as a priority.
The heightened focus on cybersecurity is closely tied to the rapid growth of Africa’s digital economy, as both government and private initiatives bring millions of new users online. Still, just 14% of organizations globally expressed confidence in their current cybersecurity capabilities, underscoring a widening gap between demand and available expertise.
