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57% of teens say they would consider a career in tech, but perceived barriers and lack of career information persist

Gauteng, South Africa – New research published by CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global technology industry, finds that teenagers in South Africa believe that technology is generally moving in a positive direction and is a force for good that will play an even greater role in their lives as they grow older.

The CompTIA report “International Youth Perspectives of Technology and Careers” reveals that 57 percent of the South African teenagers surveyed would consider a career in technology, compared to 50 percent globally. South African teens are generally positive about what a job in tech entails – solving problems, doing work that’s interesting and fun and earning a good salary.

But the survey also finds that barriers are still in place that may be keeping even more young people from looking at the technology field as a profession. More than 1,500 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 from 11 different countries[1]  participated in the online survey.

“It’s encouraging to see that a sizeable percentage of young people see tech as a viable career option,” said Loraine Vorster, vice president for business development at CompTIA. “But it’s also quite apparent that we still have work to do to correct misperceptions about tech occupations and to provide career instruction and resources that reflect the reality of the 21^st Century tech workforce.”

For example, the data shows that 32 percent of South African teenagers feel there are few available technology job opportunities in their local areas. Also, 31 percent cite a lack of affordable schooling and training options.

The report also confirms that gender bias is still present when it comes to career advice. Boys in South Africa receive higher levels of encouragement from parents, teachers, peers and other to consider a career in tech than girls. (68 percent vs. 45 percent)

When teens were asked about specific career opportunities in tech, the most popular choices are designing video games, designing apps for smartphones, running a tech business and using technology to solve problems in healthcare and education.

“These are all great career choices, but there are many more job roles in tech that provide the opportunity to earn a good salary, take on new and greater responsibilities and, most importantly, have a positive impact on society,” Vorster said. “We need to expand our outreach to get that message out to the next generations of workers.”

Interacting with Technology

Among South African teenagers, 61 percent generally believe that technology is moving in a positive direction compared to 11 percent who feel that tech is heading in a negative direction and 28 percent who are unsure. The corresponding global figures are 54 percent positive, 11 percent negative and 35 percent unsure.

Factors contributing to the positive feelings include the expectation that technology will continue to get faster, better and more feature rich. Teens also view innovation and technology breakthroughs as a way to further improve lives and will provide more choices offering something to meet the needs of almost every user.

Nearly 70 percent of young people in South Africa report seeing or hearing something about automating technologies and the future of work. They also expressed a degree of concern over the uncertainty of automation.

“Teens astutely anticipate the need for more training and hands-on experience in various technology disciplines to ensure that they are well positioned for the workplace of tomorrow,” said Anna Matthai, senior manager, research and market intelligence, CompTIA.

To access a free copy of the full report “International Youth Perspectives of Technology and Careers” visit  https://comptiacdn.azureedge.net/webcontent/docs/default-source/research-reports/comptia-international-youth-technology-and-career-perceptions.pdf?sfvrsn=f0dfb41e_2.

For all the latest news from CompTIA visit https://www.comptia.org/newsroom.

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The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 50 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more.

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Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
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