Feature
Issue No. 43 - October/November 2008
Unemployed: an overlooked resource
Building better links between SA’s businesses and our disadvantaged and long-term unemployed will relieve the state’s labour shortage given enough effort in the right areas, according to one of SA’s most active employment agencies.
A survey of Top 100 SA Companies conducted by in-business magazine, in partnership with Status Employment Services, shows 87% of employers face labour and skill shortfalls. Of the businesses surveyed, 62% believe SA’s economy will improve in the next three years and 61% project they will increase staffing as a result, highlighting the optimism in the mining, construction and defence sectors particularly. The figures reflect SA’s business resilience and expectation of solid growth prospects.
However many of the Top 100 businesses, which cover a wide range of industries from manufacturing to financial services, aim to attract temporary overseas help on 457 visas to meet their employment needs instead of looking locally to fill employee vacancies. Only 42% are considering tapping the potential of long-term unemployed, citing such workers’ unreliability, low productivity and lack of support for their development. So why are relatively few businesses using the pool of local, accessible workers right on their doorstep? Poor societal perception of disadvantaged people is only part of the reason, according to Status Employment Services Executive Chairman, Gary Hatwell.
“Some outdated and negative perceptions still remain, with over a third of those surveyed believing these people lack the necessary skills to be productive,” Gary says.
“But most pleasing was the employers’ attitudes to social inclusion and the recognition of their role in ensuring all members of our community have the opportunity to enjoy economic participation.
“There was an overwhelming response from employers saying they would be prepared to recruit from this workforce group if they had the support to do so, ensuring minimu...
