Capitalizing on digital literacy skills for capacity development of people who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa

Most people from rural and township areas in South Africa do not have skills in utilizing information and communication technology (ICT), particularly those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Addressing the gap of ICT skills is one of the fundamental options to grow and develop the capacity of people to effectively participate in economic activities. The general objective of this qualitative study was to explore how digital literacy skills can advance the lives of people currently searching for employment. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews with participants who were not employed and with diverse school backgrounds. The results indicate a need to strengthen existing digital literacy programmes for NEET people. Most of the interviewed NEET people experienced challenges when seeking work on digital platforms, because they are not skilled in digital literacy. Analysis of the data from interview transcripts revealed that there is an array of challenges which prevent NEET people from efficiently using ICTs when searching for work opportunities. These include the high cost of Internet connections and the lack of knowledge of how to use these digital platforms. The study concludes that digital literacy is one of the skills which remains critical for work seekers to increase their chances of achieving continuous work opportunities, and eventually obtain employment or become employers themselves. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the continuous discussions about the lack of digital literacy skills among young people who are economically inactive.