South Africa will need to create an estimated 40 000 to 60 000 jobs related to the just energy transition (JET) over the next 25 years and it has to start preparing citizens to benefit from the opportunities provided by the transition.

This is according to the National Business Initiative’s (NBI’s) new ‘Powering Futures: The Green Skilling Opportunity’, report, which highlights the importance of skills development for a successful JET.

It emphasises that skilling should aim to reach marginalised and vulnerable communities, particularly youth and women, in an inclusive manner; skilling should enable individuals to access sustainable job opportunities and equip them with the capabilities to navigate the workplace and the economy effectively; and skilling should position informal and township small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) to obtain the necessary technical capabilities, combined with enterprise development, to unlock transformative market opportunities.

The need (and opportunity) is also highlighted to be immediate, with 120 000 to 200 000 gross jobs expected to be created by 2030, based on the current project pipeline and demand.

Of these jobs, 50% (59 000 to 99 000) are in the solar value chain; 44 000 to 74 000 arise in the construction phase, but they are temporary and part-time; and 9 500 to 15 900 are generated in manufacturing and assembly, based on current levels of local manufacturing and assembly.

Moreover, there will be considerable demand for semi- to highly-skilled people, with about 21 000 artisans, 25 000 engineers and 25 000 technicians required.

The greatest demand will be for about 72 000 low- to semi-skilled labourers (for example, construction workers, cleaners, security guards, packers et cetera), the report avers.

Immediate hotspots are said to be Gauteng and the northern Free State for the next two years (2025 to 2027), with growth in the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape to occur closer to 2030.

The report emphasises that the skilling system needs to deliver the skills demanded by the key value chains of the energy transition at an appropriate pace and scale, while some would be transferable to the green economy broadly.

The report posits that the solution is not limited to only considerably scaling up training, but that it also requires a fundamental and sustainable shift towards an agile, coordinated, place-based ecosystem approach to skilling.

An ecosystem approach would entail active engagement of all social partners, optimised funding, strong institutional capacity, learner-centric pathways enabled by low-barrier technology, and a strong orchestrator.

“By coming together to align our workforce with the demands of a greener future, we can secure a more inclusive, equitable South Africa – one where no one is left behind as we embrace a just transition. In this context, skilling to support the JET is critically important.

“Our skills landscape needs to be aligned with the needs of the future and have the capacity to adjust in a dynamic way to support the speed and scale that is needed,” NBI Economic Inclusion and Social Transform head Gugu McLaren-Ushewojunze emphasises.

“A demand-led approach to skilling is the cornerstone of ensuring that our workforce is prepared for the opportunities ahead. It is also critical that we work with the current skilling system to adjust, strengthen existing structures and bridge the gaps that hinder progress,” she adds.