RACA Journal January 2022 | Page 54

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Women in the built sector
Pixabay
We are unsure if work is going to be steady , we ’ re unsure as to whether there will be another wave of Covid-19 infections and lockdowns . TES providers can bring job seekers and companies together in a manner that is mutually beneficial , providing industries with flexible contract workers that can be upscaled or downscaled as operations demand , while affording the workers the opportunity to gain experience and learn new skills while earning an income .
Entry level artisanal jobs in sectors such as the built environment and engineering services are ideal areas where the youth can participate earning an income and developing their skill .
SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE Given that universities are not churning out graduates that are ready for the job market , we have to be realistic about the situation . Skills gained through experience are far more urgent than formal qualifications under the current and medium-term environment .
The private sector and TES providers need to work together in creating a skilled workforce moving forward . That gap between skills and opportunity needs to be tightened to balance the need of enhanced youth skills sets while combating the issues of unemployment .
Companies approaching TES providers for assistance in meeting their labour requirements should be open to on-the-job training , or skills development programmes so that young job seekers can continue to up-skill themselves .
Experience earned in entry-level jobs can later be used to unlock better employment opportunities down the line , so it is important for youngsters to bear in mind that an entrylevel job is better than no job . It is also just as important for businesses to realise that it is not only about profitability and survival – they have a critical role to play in addressing the current challenges of unemployment to further our goals of economic recovery . RACA

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RACA Journal I January 2022 www . hvacronline . co . za