Play your part in overcoming unemployment

In the second quarter of 2021, South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to a record high of 34.4%, with close to 12 million people falling within the broad term of ‘unemployed’ in the country

This, according to statistics given in a press statement by The Tower Group, recruitment and integrated business solutions specialists, which have their head offices in Illovo.

Kerry Morris, CEO of The Tower Group, explained various factors affected unemployment rates in South Africa, from corporates not hiring due to critical skills shortages, to companies limiting new hires due to challenges presented by Covid-19.

“From a recruitment perspective, there is a bottom-heavy hierarchy,” she explained. “South Africa has a larger population than the jobs that are crossing our desks every day. Due to Covid-19 and the tough economy, companies are also wanting to save the money they have. They are closely watching their resources rather than expanding and spending on new hires.” She said some companies had also combined a few roles into one role as a cost-saving exercise.

Morris said she believed that companies and individuals could start implementing strategies, to bring about positive change:

A shift in the corporate mindset

The progressive, proactive mindset of business officials is key to bringing positive change. “Adjusted training courses are needed to upskill learners and bridge the critical skills gap. This also means putting quality learnerships on the table, and absorbing learners into the company and into required roles.” She said despite the risk-averse environment, this was the mindset needed now. “It is important that companies adopt it and take the leap, as it is the only way forward.”

A shift in career guidance

Morris also highlighted career guidance as a key solution to better educate learners on what happens after school. “In order to train, better equip and guide graduates as the labour market of the future, career guidance in school is key.” She said she believed secondary and tertiary institutions needed to provide more post-graduate guidance.

A shift in the millennial mindset

Morris believes that learners are not always prepared to start from the bottom and work their way ‘up’. “A lot of young people don’t want to do the hard yards.” She said she believed young people had become deceived by promises of quick-fix fortune and fame, and obsessed with thoughts of becoming an Instagram Influencer or the next overnight TikTok sensation. “There is a growing idea that things literally come for free. This work ethic needs to change – quickly.”

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