Job creators: Does the government want youngsters to employ themselves?
· The South African
Is the government admitting the job market won’t satisfy demand? That appears to be the case with recent statements asking youth to become “job creators.”
In a recent online event, the government showcased how the youth could create their own jobs.
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Government Spokesperson calls for Youngsters to be “Job Creators”
Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi made the remarks about youth self-employment on Thursday, 11 July. Speaking at a webinar for the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Baloyi highlighted the youth’s “resilience.”
He contrasted the generational mission of the youth of 1976 with the mission of youth today. “We want the youth not only to be job seekers, but to be job creators,” he explained.
During the webinar, Baloyi also noted that people “generally look at government to be the main employer,” but explained this wasn’t sustainable because that model relies on income generated through taxes.
Instead, the webinar highlighted government opportunities that encourage young people to become entrepreneurs. These include the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the National Empowerment Fund, and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency’s (SEDFA) Youth Fund.
The two hour webinar concluded with the government promising more webinars going forward.
Where are the jobs for South Africa’s Youngsters?
The government encourages companies to hire youth through programmes like the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI). However, when the economy stagnates, so does job creation. Youth unemployment is a symptom of a stagnating economy.
Every year, a new cohort of young people enters the workforce. But since the economy hasn’t absorbed the previous cohort, the new cohort has to enter the queue.
Employers are also hesitant to hire inexperienced youngsters. This group would need training before they can become a productive part of a company’s workforce.
So private employers prefer those with the skills, typically older people.
More youngsters join the queue waiting for jobs to open up.
Every year the economy isn’t growing, the queue for youth unemployment gets longer.
Youngsters Should Avoid Ghost Jobs and Job Scams
Given the economic constraints, young people searching for work will encounter more ghost jobs and job scams than real employment opportunities.
On career sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, almost half of the opportunities are ghost jobs.
Ghost jobs are listings employers publish when they aren’t actively searching for someone to fill the role. But they can also refer to listings where the position has already been filled.
Estimates place ghost jobs at 40% of jobs on the market.
Job seekers also have to be aware of scams.
South Africa’s youth have encountered human trafficking while on the job market. Youngsters are lured abroad with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be exploited.
More commonly, scammers want money. In the name of proving a job seeker is serious, scammers often request money for on-the-job training or application fees.
These scams have become sophisticated. Job seekers may encounter multiple rounds of interviews or websites that appear legitimate.
To avoid falling victim to a ghost job or job scam, always go directly to the source.
Companies typically have a careers page. You can apply for a job directly through these listings.