Get skills and go further
JOBURG – Reversing the unemployment rate hinges on getting properly trained people to apply for available jobs.
Despite being ranked the second largest economy in Africa, latest unemployment data indicates that South Africa went up to 27.1 per cent, from a previous 26.6 per cent, making it the highest since 2004.
According to TradingEconomics.com, the unemployment rate averaged 25.35 per cent from 2000 to 2016, reaching an all-time high of 31.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2003 and a record low of 21.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Statistics show that most unemployed people are the youth. Economists say it is pivotal for South Africa to turn this growing population of young people into an economic opportunity instead of looking at it as a burden.
But the unemployment rate is measured by gauging the lack of skilled people to fill required positions, not lack of jobs. A recent job study shows that demand for skills is changing constantly, highlighting the importance of education and training institutions that equip students with the right skills set to be successful in the workforce. However, many students choose tertiary institutions that don’t equip them with the necessary support to attain much-needed skills in business, science, technology, engineering and maths.
Companies often find individuals with a lot of academic knowledge and limited complex problem-solving skills, critical and cognitive thinking, and decision-making. Therefore, choosing an institution that helps students achieve these skills, especially in scarce job fields, is critical.
Scarce-skilled areas are management, business studies and education. Finding a suitable institution that will equip students with the required skills to further their careers and contribute to growing the economy, is important to sustain the country and to lower unemployment.
Details: Click here to visit the website
