Employment & Entrepreneurship
A better question would be:“ What if we don’ t train them and they stay?”
While we are challenging government and policymakers to re-imagine the skills development landscape, there is also room to challenge entrepreneurs and owner-managed businesses. Skills development should be seen as central to your growth strategy, not a burden.
There are typically three scenarios when it comes to skills development in entrepreneurial and owner-managed businesses – build, buy or borrow them. With skills development often seen as a grudge purchase, there is the propensity to focus on buying skills( paying up for talent), or borrowing them by bringing in consultants for shorter-term projects.
Many entrepreneurs believe they can handle everything themselves, which often leads to an informal approach to workforce management. They don’ t always understand the value of structured training and skills development, or they perceive it as an unnecessary cost. The mindset of“ I already pay 1-2 % in levies; why should I invest more?” is common. The complexity of Skills Development legislation and bureaucratic processes to participate further cements this mindset.
Creating a future-ready workforce means investing in adaptable learning environments where people can continuously upgrade their skills. This isn’ t just about staying competitive; it’ s about securing economic resilience. One of the key issues with current skills policies is that they are not aligned with the realities of business. Instead of creating incentives that encourage meaningful investment in workforce development, these policies often penalise businesses that fail to meet rigid compliance standards.
In addition, we find that learners exiting formal learning institutions and work readiness programmes don’ t necessarily possess the skills required to hit the ground running. On the other hand, entrepreneurs and small business do not have the capacity to facilitate on-the-job learning while contributing to salaries and not receiving productivity that can be monetised.
Employment figures are an important metric, but they only tell part of the story. A growing economy is not just about how many people have jobs; it’ s about the quality and sustainability of those jobs and the opportunities they create. South Africa needs to focus on enabling businesses to grow and compete globally, which in turn will create sustainable employment.
To achieve this, we need a broader vision. Compliance should be a stepping stone, not the end goal. Businesses must be empowered to think beyond numbers and focus on building capabilities that drive innovation and growth. Maybe it’ s time for innovation by our legislators. What if we looked at fully
subsidised on-the-job training using technology for knowledge transfer to leverage cost reduction? How could this grow small businesses while providing education and experience to the 33.5 % unemployed South Africans? Will this not enhance future personal and corporate income tax contributions and reduce the burden on the existing taxpayer base?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. We have spent over 20 years investing in Skills Development for compliance – it is time to invest for a future-facing economy.
About Suran Moodley
Suran Moodley is the Group Managing Executive at Ariston Global. With over 25 years ' experience across multiple business disciplines, he is a seasoned strategist and solutions architect, specialising in workforce development, organisational transformation and innovation strategy. Suran is passionate about reimagining South Africa’ s Human Resources landscape to align with future economic realities. He has extensive experience working with businesses to build capabilities that foster innovation and growth, ensuring their workforces are equipped to thrive in the age of technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. A trusted advisor and leader, Suran has successfully guided startups, turnarounds, and mature businesses both locally and internationally.
102 www. futuresa. co. za