Abstract
The accurate forecasting of skills is a key differentiator of growth, as technological advancements are increasingly impacting skills and the nature of skills forecasting. This requires a more sophisticated and holistic approach, i.e., a systems thinking approach. This method aims to account for this impact and addresses the complexity of contemporary skills forecasting. A multi-layer approach commences with a bibliometric analysis, illustrating the technological evolution of skills according to a sector-specific search and a multi-country analysis. The results illustrate an increase in publications corresponding to technological advancements in each sector. The impact of specific technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, has a significant impact on skills research. This analysis compares skills associated with healthcare jobs advertised on job sites in South Africa and the USA. A network illustration tool offers a novel approach to job requirements per country. Analysis using the job descriptions allows further insights into the requirements of jobs in the healthcare field. The level of technological integration of South Africa is less well developed than in the USA. The novelty of this study lies in the systems thinking approach to skills forecasting by combining two sources of data and multiple layers of analysis.