In an article published by the Central African News Agency, the talent availability and retention is a brake on growth in Africa. Several reports confirm that most African companies face this issue. And until today, there is still little effort, despite the awareness of decision makers. Talent availability is considered as one of the biggest challenges facing business leaders on the continent, where 83 percent of African CEOs say they are concerned about the top skills availability.
A report from EY recently indicated that while African leaders are perceived as performing well in day-to-day operational activities, there should be further development when it comes to managing staff, particularly in terms of retention, productivity and commitment. This is the opinion of Lebo Tseladimitlwa, HR Vice President at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Overall, according to the figures, only one in five companies offers additional training to existing staff, which proves that employers are not doing enough to solve the talent shortage issue. In Africa, these efforts are well below those of the rest of the world. As a result, the need for programs is even stronger. “
According to Tseladimitlwa, PwC’s Africa Business Agenda report also reveals that most CEOs expect the number of employees to increase and stabilize in the future. In a competitive African workplace, these statistics indicate that attracting and developing the right skills is essential. In addition, she says, it’s also important to adopt a leadership style that will support and encourage the skills and talents needed for growth.
“In terms of skills, the main issue will no longer be talent availability, but the ability and responsibility of leaders to teach and develop these skills. For Lebo Tseladimitlwa, employers in Africa need to promote an ongoing culture of learning and development and encourage employees to take charge of their destiny.