Stronger connections among employers, education providers, and youth is key to fight unemployment – Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Moloi

Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Boitumelo Moloi, said the key to combating high unemployment among young people is forging stronger connections among employers, education providers, and youth themselves to build skills that lead to entry-level jobs in growth sectors.
The Deputy Minister was today (06 February 2024) addressing a gathering of employers during a Jobs and Career Fairs Breakfast Session, which was hosted by the Department of Employment and Labour at the King George Hotel in the Western Cape Province.
As from 29 January to 01 February 2024, the Department of Employment and Labour provided its integrated services to the communities of Mossel Bay; Uniondale; Sedgefield; Knysna; Riversdale and Oudsthoorn, as part of the Department’s build-up activities for the Jobs and Career Fairs at George.
Yesterday (05 Feberuary 2024) the Department’s Jobs and Career Fairs and other Service delivery interventions were provided to the community of Thembalethu at the Thembalethu Sports Ground and at least 1 523 clients were attended to.
“Through Career Fairs and integrated service delivery initiatives, we provide careers information, conduct counselling sessions, registration and placement into registered opportunities to the huge number of work seekers that turn up at these events.
“We have called you (employers) to mobilise your support, to register employment opportunities with us through our Public Employment Services branch and to conduct recruitment of these work seekers that are screened, assessed and prepared for work readiness, free of charge,” Deputy Minister Moloi told the employers’ gathering.
The Department of Employment and Labour has since introduced state-of- the-art mobile units that are assisting a great deal in servicing work seekers across South Africa.
“Mind-sets need to change, innovations need to be sought and collaborations strengthened to bring about a halt to the staggering unemployment amongst our youth. From our side, we have started this initiative – engaging in a number of Jobs and Career Fairs across the country – and we have been running them for the past two years.
“We have partnered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), as well as with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in a joint project funded by the European Union to smooth the transition from school to work,” said the Deputy Minister, and adding that Department is also supporting the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative.
In conclusion, Deputy Minister Moloi, said: “I want to reiterate that as the Department, we have decided to establish partnerships to make employment our mission, and to fund interventions that provide training as well as access to formal entry level jobs for our youth giving them an opportunity to grow.”
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The public can register in the Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA) opportunities from their own comfort through the Department of Employment and Labour website: at www.labour.gov.za
Members of the public can also contact the Department’s Toll Free Number: 0800 030 007, for further assistance.