ECONOMISTS have called on matriculants to start their businesses or opt for learnerships and technical skills in a bid to increase their chances of finding jobs.
It is estimated that the country's economy grew at a rate of between 3.25% and 3.5% last year.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Business Partners managing director Nazeem Martin said matriculants who will be looking for jobs this year will find it very difficult to penetrate the labourmarket.
"While very few matriculants will be absorbed by the economy, many of them should be realistic about their skills levels and job prospects. They should acquire technical skills such as computer repairs, sales, plumbing, carpentry and motor repairs," he said.
Alternatively, matriculants could seek careers in the service industry, such as tourism, which may not require high skill levels.
Martin said job prospects for many matriculants and other young people were unlikely to improve next year as South Africa's economy was likely to grow at a rate of between 3.5% and 4.0%.
He also said a matric certificate was not enough for job requirements.
Cape Chamber of Commerce executive director Viola Manuel said matriculants who will not further their studies at universities should opt for FET colleges.
She said there were excellent qualifications aimed specifically at sectors which were still growing and employing.
She said matriculants should also make themselves available at local businesses to learn new skills.
Manuel said many industries were in survival mode and focusing on job retention rather than job creation.
The Cape Chamber believed that business, labour, civil society and government have to work together to embrace a whole new framework if the economy was to deliver meaningful job creation.
She urged companies to make use of various products offered by government to subsidise learnerships and bring young people into the fold.
Wolfgang Thomas, economist at Stellenbosch Business School, said South Africa's real economic growth during 2011 was far below "hoped-for" growth rates of 4% to 6%, stipulated to be necessary to significantly reduce the country's high unemployment rate.
Due to worldwide recessionary trends, the country's expected real GDP growth rate for 2012 may be no higher than 3% - and may be even slightly lower.
Job prospects still bleak for matriculants
ECONOMISTS have called on matriculants to start their businesses or opt for learnerships and technical skills in a bid to increase their chances of finding jobs.
It is estimated that the country's economy grew at a rate of between 3.25% and 3.5% last year.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Business Partners managing director Nazeem Martin said matriculants who will be looking for jobs this year will find it very difficult to penetrate the labourmarket.
"While very few matriculants will be absorbed by the economy, many of them should be realistic about their skills levels and job prospects. They should acquire technical skills such as computer repairs, sales, plumbing, carpentry and motor repairs," he said.
Alternatively, matriculants could seek careers in the service industry, such as tourism, which may not require high skill levels.
Martin said job prospects for many matriculants and other young people were unlikely to improve next year as South Africa's economy was likely to grow at a rate of between 3.5% and 4.0%.
He also said a matric certificate was not enough for job requirements.
Cape Chamber of Commerce executive director Viola Manuel said matriculants who will not further their studies at universities should opt for FET colleges.
She said there were excellent qualifications aimed specifically at sectors which were still growing and employing.
She said matriculants should also make themselves available at local businesses to learn new skills.
Manuel said many industries were in survival mode and focusing on job retention rather than job creation.
The Cape Chamber believed that business, labour, civil society and government have to work together to embrace a whole new framework if the economy was to deliver meaningful job creation.
She urged companies to make use of various products offered by government to subsidise learnerships and bring young people into the fold.
Wolfgang Thomas, economist at Stellenbosch Business School, said South Africa's real economic growth during 2011 was far below "hoped-for" growth rates of 4% to 6%, stipulated to be necessary to significantly reduce the country's high unemployment rate.
Due to worldwide recessionary trends, the country's expected real GDP growth rate for 2012 may be no higher than 3% - and may be even slightly lower.
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