GENDER GAP STILL EVIDENT IN SA entering the workforce . This was a vital conversation , and certainly one that has to penetrate beyond the walls of a well-lit boardroom .
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tailing storage , building foundations and pipelines , and we started this business . We did so while needing to take care of 17 dependents across three families ,” said Kirsten . He exhorted all present to embrace the next half-century with the same vigour and enthusiasm as the last .
The event highlighted the role SRK plays in the mining industry , with SRK Consulting SA chair Vis Reddy acknowledging the great achievement . The stage was also graced by SRK Consulting global MD Tim McGurk , as well as former global managing director Andy Barrett .
The common theme of the event was the hope to continue working alongside industry partners and stakeholders with the same degree of success achieved in the past . Andrew Van Zyl , managing director , SRK Consulting ( South Africa ) concluded the night , noting the importance of people as a core part of SRK ’ s culture .
“ At SRK , we ’ ve had some great people build a legacy for us , and we are going to pass that legacy on . We are a very personal business , and our people are of utmost importance .”
Source : supplied by SRK Consulting
In our early 30s , we took the risk of developing and bringing together our skills and knowledge in rock slopes , rock excavations , tailing storage , building foundations and pipelines , and we started this business . We did so while needing to take care of 17 dependents across three families – Hendrik Kirsten , founder SRK Consulting .”
GENDER GAP STILL EVIDENT IN SA entering the workforce . This was a vital conversation , and certainly one that has to penetrate beyond the walls of a well-lit boardroom .
The Harambee Breaking Barriers Quarterly Report offers a sobering look at the state of employment for youth , and young women in particular , in South Africa . The employment rate as it currently stands in the country reflects that 57 % of young women are without jobs compared to 49 % for young men .
This comes as women in South Africa are 10 % more likely to pass matric than their male counterparts , and 70 % more likely to have a degree . Despite being more educated , they still experience low employment rates , higher barriers to labour market entry , and – when they do find jobs – will be paid 6 % less than men in the same job .
What we are also seeing in South Africa is that women are employed in low-skilled work more often than men . The sectors where more women are employed in are predominantly community , social and personal services sectors . And when it comes to medium skilled jobs , these are the ones that are most threatened by automation and AI .
The global business sector ( GBS ) is showing high growth , with an emphasis on hiring women . This is not something that has happened by accident : the sector has used targeted incentive structures to drive up the recruitment of women .
The obstacles that young women face to enter the workforce are many . Transport and data costs are high , they may not have time to actively look for work if they are covering service responsibilities ( cooking , cleaning ) at home , the cost of childcare while they search for jobs and things such as not having a driver ’ s license can compound the search for work .
What is more is that women in urban settings could stand a higher chance of getting work than women living in rural areas . Women who are pregnant do not have much luck with jobs at all . Client or employer bias may also play a part as we have seen with women making inroads in some sectors . Some clients or employers often doubt a woman ’ s ability to do what has been traditionally seen as “ a man ’ s job ”. This in turn casts doubt on the woman artisan which ultimately could impact self-esteem .
All of this , and we have not even hit the wage disparities between men and women yet .
Essentially , it appears that women lack the very support that they provide for men so that the men can look for work or simply continue working .
Image by freepik
By Tanya Olckers , senior writer Plumbing Africa
Despite being more educated than their male counterparts , young women face lower employment rates and greater barriers on entrance into the labour force .
On 21 August 2024 , a group of women met in Parktown to discuss the reality that many young South African women face when
Women have lower levels of employment , lower labour absorption and a consistently higher unemployment rate than men . So , what is the solution ?
First of all , it ’ s important to remember that this is not a situation which will magically transform overnight . There needs to be buy-in from society , employers and learning institutions , something that BluLever Education is currently doing by helping young women get a foothold in trades such as plumbing and electrical .
Staffing solutions group , Shortlist , conducted some research into gender gaps and green economy . Their recommendation is to
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