You’ve finished school, now what?
Media reports paint a grim employment outlook for many school leavers as experts and academics have predicted that as many as seven out of 10 matrics looking for a job this year will not find one.
Not every young person has the privilege of going to university and even then they are not guaranteed of a job, but the news is not all bleak. Apprenticeships for young people are an excellent way of getting a foot into a shrinking employment pool.
According to the Retail Motor Industry, there is no doubt that small business will be the ones to drive the economy in the future providing much needed employment.
The automotive sector is experiencing a chronic skills shortage ranging from motor body repair and spray painting; petrol mechanics; diesel mechanics; automotive engineering and machining; engine fitting; welding; vehicle bodybuilding, and auto electrical. The opportunities to specialise are exciting allowing young people to explore sought after expert areas.
Jakkie Olivier, CEO of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), the largest collective employer in the automotive aftermarket, says, best of all, young South Africans who embrace apprenticeships can enjoy earning whilst they learn. “This is an important enabler for many young people to be able to make a monetary contribution to parents or custodians, and get them from their residences to either the training institution or the workplace.”
RMI’s National Training Director, Louis van Huyssteen says learners with a positive attitude, an eagerness to use their opportunity and discipline are welcomed in the sector, and young ideals of a long and prosperous career can indeed become a real reality.
Van Huyssteen explains from apprentice level, one qualifies to artisan, also called journeymen status, after successful completion of a trade test. “The opportunities to specialise are exciting allowing young people to explore sought after expert areas including colour mixer and matcher; application of waterborne and 2 and 3 stage pearlescent paint; passenger and commercial vehicle technicians; vehicle engine remanufacturing; diagnostic and fault finding technicians; coded welding, and steering geometry and advanced driver-assistance systems.”, he says.
Sources for motor industry careers and training institutions:
Department Higher Education and Training National Career Advice Portal Khetha’ (https://ncap.careerhelp.org.za/Occupations);
merSETA’s career portal (https://www.careersportal.co.za/company/merseta);
TVET colleges’ with engineering campuses and those offering motor-related apprenticeships (https://nationalgovernment.co.za/units/type/9/tvet-college);
corporate motor vehicle dealer groups with private training centres such as the Motus Training Academy (https://www.motustechnicalacademy.co.za/);
Barloworld Motor Retail South Africa (https://barloworldacademy.co.za/about-us/barloworld-academy/);
other related private institutions include Artisan Training Institute (https://www.artisantraining.co.za/);
SA Institute of Welding (https://www.saiw.co.za/);
AFRIT (https://afrit.co.za/afrit-cpd-academy/);
SA Truck Bodies Training Centre (on Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=452975774823824),
and Kigima auto electrical training centre (https://www.kigima.co.za/courses/
