Construction World October 2017

MARKETPLACE

Go for Gold tackles youth unemployment, education and skills development in under-privileged communities with its innovative four phase model that provides a fully integrated personal and professional developmental pipeline. Initially, Grade 11 & 12 learners are given the opportunity to boost their education with weekly extra lessons in maths, science, life skills and leadership development training. After matriculation, participants take part in a year-long internship with partner companies which provides them with exposure to the built environment and enables them determine their course of study the following year. An added advantage is that partner companies to get to know their bursary candidates before investing in their tertiary studies. The beneficiaries of the programme enjoy bursary support and the secure knowledge of guaranteed employment once they graduate. It is this holistic approach and sustainable long-term strategy that sets Go for Gold apart and ensures the programme’s high success rate for its beneficiaries and partner companies. dhk has been running a successful bursary scheme for many years, and the new partnership with Go for Gold will run in parallel with the company’s existing programme, supporting dhk’s commitment to development and transformation within the industry. Jacqui Barhouch, Associate and Head of Communications at dhk who spearheads the company’s involvement in the programme said, Forging future architects dhk has kicked off a new partnership with the internationally recognised non-profit organisation Go for Gold, with two beneficiaries from its award- winning education-to-employment programme joining the architecture company’s Cape Town design studio as interns this year.

Photo credit: Grant Payne

“With Go for Gold we’re able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people while opening up the world of architecture to students who may not have even been aware of this as a career option.” dhk is the first architecture company to partner with Go for Gold and the firm is challenging others to take part, “We want to encourage other built environment professionals to get involved with this programme and help build a pool of bright young talent,” said Barhouch. Go for Gold is approaching companies within the South African built environment to join the programme and make use of the its developmental pipeline to secure graduates for industry who are work-ready and have practical experience within the sector. As an NPO, Go for Gold is able to offer benefits that complement companies BBBEE requirements throughout its four phases and also boasts an enterprise development company, Uketha Investments, that benefits companies and future beneficiaries alike. 

Labour Force Survey Q2 2017 The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2017, released by Statistics South Africa today, indicate that employment declined by 113 000 to approximately 16,1 million.

between Q1: 2017 and Q2: 2017. The largest employment losses were recorded in Gauteng (143 000) and Eastern Cape (26 000), while Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal recorded employment gains of 32 000 and 29 000 respectively. The official unemployment rate remained unchanged at 27,7% quarter-to-quarter, but it increased by 1,1 percentage points year-on- year. The highest annual increases in were recorded in Eastern Cape (5,8 percentage points), Mpumalanga (3,5 percentage points), Northern Cape (3,1 percentage points) and Free State (2,2 percentage points). Western Cape and North West were the only provinces that recorded year-on- year declines in the unemployment rate. Young people aged 15-24 remain vulnerable in the labour market with an

However, the number of job-seekers also declined by 37 000 to approximately 6,2 million resulting in the unemployment rate remaining unchanged at 27,7%. Over the same period the absorption rate (employment to population ratio), which is a proportion of those who are employed among the population aged 15-64 declined by 0,4 of a percentage point to 43,3%. The net quarterly employment decline of 113 000 in Q2: 2017 was driven by six of the ten industries. The largest decreases were recorded in Construction (110 000) and Agriculture (40 000). However, employment gains were observed in Trade (58 000), Finance (17 000), Manufacturing (10 000) and Utilities (2 000). The number of employed persons decreased in five of the nine provinces

unemployment rate of almost 56% and absorption rate of 12%. Among those in this age group, 32,2% are not in employment, education or training (NEET) – this is approximately 3,3 million young people. The expanded unemployment rate which includes an extra 3,1 million persons who were available to work but did not look for work during the reference period increased by 0,2 of a percentage point to 36,6%. This is approximately 9,3 million people aged 15-64 who wanted to work and were available to work but their labour was not utilised. 

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2017