Concerns Over AI Training Jobs Among Educated Workers in South Africa

AI companies are hiring educated workers to train machines in skills they have developed over years, raising concerns about job displacement. James Maisiri, who holds a Ph.D. in industrial sociology from the University of Johannesburg, was approached to train an AI system to design assessments and teach students. He was offered 600 rand ($37) an hour in a country where the minimum wage is 30.23 rand ($2) an hour, amid a youth unemployment rate of 47.4% as of the second quarter of 2026. This situation presents a dilemma for many, balancing the need for income against the potential for technology to replace their roles. Workers across various sectors, including writers and manual laborers, are being recruited to train AI systems that may eventually take over their jobs. In Africa, where AI adoption is low, there is a growing pool of educated professionals facing high unemployment and low wages. The AI roles available differ from traditional data labeling jobs, as they require individuals to impart not only knowledge but also judgment developed through experience. The recruitment process has also shifted, with AI systems conducting interviews instead of humans. Maisiri ultimately declined the job offer, grappling with the implications of transferring human judgment to machines and the ethical considerations involved in training AI. He continues to seek academic employment, preferring to teach students rather than AI systems.