South African Business 2016 edition

SPECIAL FEATURE

SPECIAL FEATURE providing TVET learners, who have completed the N6 Certificate in Business Studies, with the 18-months work experience required to achieve the National N Diploma. Most importantly, employers have been exposed to a new talent pipeline for mid-level skills. These developments come at a time when skills gaps have become a serious preoccupation within the private sector globally. The importance of educating matriculants Manana said in order for us to ensure a simple post-school education and training system, the Department of Higher Education and Training will continue to promote the working relationships and structured interface between universities, colleges, the SETAs, quality councils and other stakeholders in the post-school education and training system, so that they may interact with one another, introducing the knowledge and skills our society and the economy at large needs to thrive. “These relationships would also assist in ensuring that learners who have undergone training are also provided with places to practice what they have learnt in order for them to get easy employment or to get employed. Therefore, in support of this summit, I am sure that by the end of deliberations, a variety of issues will be covered and progressively discussed and consolidated, so as to enhance our education and training policy position as guided by the notion of post school education and training. “Against a backdrop of unemployment, inequality and poverty, we should not ignore the reality that the fibreprocessing and manufacturing sectors have the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for the benefit of our economy. I must applaud FP&M SETA for having recently conducted extensive surveys pertaining to work integrated work learning placements within organisations in the FP&M sector,” said Manana. “South Africa has made tremendous strides in improving the lives of our people, but the road ahead is still very steep. Your commitments will forever be necessary for the realisation of a successful post school education and training system.” An international perspective A PwC global survey of over 1 300 CEOs in 68 countries discloses that after a number of years of headcount cuts, half of organisations surveyed are looking to hire again. Organisations in the Middle East (71%), the South East Asian Nations (54%) as well as China (53%) plan to make the most net hires over the next 12 months, while business services (51%), insurance (49%) and technology (46%) are the sectors looking to make the most net hires. Despite the positive outlook for jobs, the research shows that business leaders are more concerned than ever about being able to find the right people to fill these roles. Sixty-three percent of CEOs (an increase of 5% from 2013) report that the availability of key skills is the biggest threat to their organisation’s growth. CEOs in Africa (96%), the South East nations (90%) and South Africa (87%) are most concerned about the lack of skills. Technology and engineering firms are struggling the most with the shortage of skilled employees. The growing skills gap and rising cost of labour in emerging markets is forcing organisations to look to new markets for talent. Many SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2016 36