There is no future for psychometrists in South Africa. A debate for and against the statement

The role of psychometrists in South Africa has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, driven by rapid technological advances, shifts in regulatory requirements, and changes in organisational talent practices. Some stakeholders argue that the profession is losing its relevance due to automation, AI-driven assessments, and expanding responsibilities of Industrial and Organisational Psychologists. Others contend that psychometrists remain essential for ethical, reliable, and contextually appropriate assessment—particularly in a country marked by diversity, inequality, and unique labour market demands. This debate is critical at a time when organisations are navigating talent shortages, the rise of remote work, and growing concerns about assessment fairness and validity in multicultural environments.
The contentious title of the debate is: There is no future for psychometrists in South Africa. One team will argue for the statement and one team will argue against the statement. The aim is to unpack the socio-professional, technological, and regulatory forces shaping the field and to provide an examination of the current challenges and future opportunities. Drawing on existing literature, practitioner perspectives, and emerging trends in assessment science.
A moderator and 2 team members in each team will lead the discussion. There will be an opportunity for the audience to voice their opinions. Finally, the audience will vote on which team provided the better argument. Not necessarily the correct view but the best argument. Rules and boundaries will be explained to ensure that the conversation proceeds in a meaningful yet fun manner.
We would need about 45-60 minutes to ensure active participation.