5
ways hiring and employment is changing
ratio also increased from 37,5% to 38,2%, and the labour force participation rate increased from 54,2% to 56,6% during this period, indicating that more people are participating in the labour market.
By Charndré Emma Kippie
This meant that many were With the global pandemic
end of 2020. However, data
battling to find employment
reaching a third wave, South
collected also indicated a rise
throughout the lockdown period,
African businesses and
in the number of unemployed
putting major pressure on
recruitment agencies are forced
individuals, documenting that
recruitment and staffing entities
to once again pivot, adjusting
701 000 individuals were without
who experienced major shifts in
practices and outlooks to meet
employment by the fourth quarter
acquiring new skills and talent,
pending changes, and a growing
of 2020.
retrenchment and organisational
need for constant technological
strategies geared towards
innovation, required to keep the
These changes significantly
workforce going strong.
impacted all major labour
weathering the storm.
market rates. South Africa’s
Despite the fall in overall
Sector Overview
unemployment rate, thus, soared
hiring activity throughout
According to the Quarterly
from 30,8% to 32,5% by the end
2020, employment prospects
Labour Force Survey (QLFS), South
of the year. This was the highest
are steadily improving for
Africa witnessed an increase
unemployment rate recorded
professionals in sectors such as:
of 333 000 in the number of
since the start of the QLFS in 2008.
the business management, ICT
employed persons near the
The employment-to-population
and logistics.
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