Employment opportunities for matrics are looking considerably more favourable than they did last year, trade union Solidarity said in a statement on Monday.
The findings of a study carried out by Solidarity show that about 60% of job hunters in 2005 should find employment within the next 12 months.
Solidarity Youth spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said that this is the best prospect in years.
“There are indications that the tendency of job losses that prevailed for the past 10 years is beginning to show a turnaround. South Africa’s current strong economic growth is finally beginning to trickle through to the labour market,” he noted.
The study, undertaken by the trade union in conjunction with economist Mike Schussler, predicts that a net number of between 120 000 and 150 000 new jobs will be created in 2005.
This excludes positions that become vacant due to the retirement or death of an incumbent.
According to the trade union, a tertiary qualification or in-house training, such as that undergone by artisans, will help people find employment more easily.
“New labour market entrants should initially not be too particular about the type of work they do. It is more important to get a foot in the door first and to become familiar with the world of work.
“It is easier to find another job if one is already employed than it is to seek employment for the first time.”
The union added that the area in which one looks for employment is definitive and it is important to be well qualified, but it is even better to have diversified qualifications and to be adaptable.
“Modern-day work situations are in constant flux and a person who knows a bit about many things has a better chance than someone who specialises in one field only.”
Sectors that show continuing growth are the information technology (IT) industry in particular, the financial sector, business services and everything relating to trade, hospitality and all the various support, repair and maintenance services, the union stated.
According to Solidarity, the services sector creates approximately 75% of all new jobs, with the manufacturing sector contributing only one quarter.
“Do not underestimate the trades. Nowadays there is great demand for artisans in the manufacturing sector. In addition to the ‘classic” trades needed in the manufacturing sector, there are other service-related trades, like network installations and maintenance, that will remain sought after while the IT revolution continues on its headlong rush.”
Solidarity added that people for whom there will be a continued demand next year include engineers, accountants, auditors and IT specialists.
“Many opportunities exist in the informal sector and young workers are still not exhibiting sufficient entrepreneurial qualities.”
The presidential joint working group, comprising the government, the business sector and labour, announced earlier this week that approximately 500 000 new jobs were created in 2004. This number is substantially higher than had initially been expected. — I-Net Bridge