Skills shortages in South Africa are widely seen as a major obstacle to the achievement of targeted economic growth rates. Yet there is some dispute as to the nature and extent of these shortages, given the large number of unemployed graduates. The case studies presented here explore the question of shortage in nine key professions and artisanal trades, and find evidence of skills scarcity in most fields. The case studies provide insight into the reasons for shortages and surpluses in relation to South Africa's own context and history. They also consider the international market for knowledge and skills, in which South African qualifications are highly prized. The monograph emanates from a study on sector specific research and related skills requirements commissioned by the South African Department of Labour in 2006. It formed part of a wider research project on scarce and critical skills related to the National Skills Development Strategy and the National Industrial Policy Framework of 2007, for which the Human Siences Research Council led a research consortium comprising the Development Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town and the Sociology of Work Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand.

This report identifies effective strategies to tackle skills imbalances in South Africa.

Publisher Description

This book provides an overview of human resources development (HRD) in South Africa. It focuses on three institutional subsystems within the larger South African social system that play an important role in developing human resources, namely: * the youth labour market * the world if work with its associated enterprise training system * the national system of science and innovation The analysis shows how, ion the current South African context, contradiction and incoherence characterise the interaction between institutions in each of these three subsystems. The book also argues that the skills problem is not located only at the high-skills end but also in intermediate- and low-skill needs. Each of these skill bands are experiencing severe HRD problems which require urgent resolution. The author argues that solutions to these problems lie in cross-sect oral governmental policy co-ordination and implementation and that in the absence of such" joined-up" action, HRD problems will continue to fall between the discrete mandates of separate government departments.

While economic theory considers technological progress to be a key factor for sustained long-term economic growth and job creation, technology absorption is particularly an important driver for 'catch-up growth.' This study seeks to identify channels of technology transfer and absorption for Southern African enterprises, constraints to greater technology absorption, and discuss policy options open to governments and the private sector in light of relevant international experience. It has been done based on sector and enterprise case studies carried in four countries: South Africa, Mauritius, Lesotho and Namibia. This study uses a combination of econometric and in depth case study analyses to investigate the presence of specific channels of absorption and the various constraints that the firms face to effectively absorb this technology. There is evidence of learning by exporting, and spillovers from FDI underscoring the importance of trade and FDI as important channels of absorption. The study finds that four countries while open to trade and FDI face a number of constraints that inhibit them from maximizing the economic benefits from technology absorption. These constraints include a major skills mismatch, insufficient research and development and ineffective industry-research linkages. While outlining broad policy directions in four areas namely increasing skills supply, fostering learning through trade, increasing domestic spillovers from FDI and incentivizing greater firm level research and development, it lays out some priority areas for each of the four countries. We hope that the issues discussed and the dialogue initiated during the course of this study would lend itself to policy design to foster technology absorption with a view to higher growth and job creation in this highly globalized world.

The book contains a unique and refreshingly new perspective on education, training and development (ETD) practices in the 21st century workplace context. It moves away from merely revamping known and traditional principles of ETD to providing the reader and student with practical tools and new perspectives on the changing and broadening role of the ETD practitioner in the workplace. It contains new and transformative models, practical applications and guidelines for students and readers on the South African outcomes-based approach to ETD, the profession and practice of ETD, including quality assurance aspects.

Adult learning systems play a crucial role in helping people adapt to the changing world of work and develop relevant skills. Community Education and Training has been brought forward as a possible way to foster adult learning in South Africa, especially among disadvantaged groups. South Africa ...

Building on global interest in migration development, the volume draws attention to one of the most important migration systems in sub-Saharan Africa. It reviews South Africa’s approach to international migration in the post-apartheid period from a regional development perspective, highlighting key policy issues, debates, and consequences. The authors find at least three areas where migration is resulting in important development impacts. First, by offering options to those affected by conflict and crises in a region that has limited formal disaster management and social protection systems. Second, by mitigating shortcomings and distortions in regional labour markets. Third, by providing support to struggling rural economies and ever expanding urban areas in terms of livelihoods and social capital transfers. Chapter One consists of a study of the country’s historical experience of migration and, in particular, analyses the changes in official attitudes throughout the twentieth century, indicating the roots of contemporary ideas and policy dilemmas. Chapters Two, Three, Four and Five complement this analysis of the South African State’s capacity to reform and manage the South African migration situation by looking at often neglected dimensions: the first explores the question of skilled labour, a crucial question given the unbalanced structure of the South African labour market; the second examines the impact of migration on local government in South African cities and specifically implications for urban planning, service delivery, health, security, and political accountability; the third analyses the nature of undocumented migration to South Africa and the challenges it raises to both State and non-State actors; The book concludes with an examination of health as a critical issue when examining the relationship between migration and development in South Africa, in light of recent empirical data.