Career Information -Work Availability Information

Introduction

Career and labour market-related information is one of the main components of career support and is vital to labour market efficiency. As a CDP, it is impossible to provide effective career services without comprehensive educational, occupational and labour market information.

Existing studies

In a World Bank study across 14 countries, the lack of career information was found to be one of the major challenges for delivering efficient career guidance services, and even where information exists, there are often limitations in accessing it. Despite progress through ICT, access is still restricted in many developing countries, especially in schools. The study noted that, in the absence of government provision, the private sector has often taken the initiative in publishing career information, with Chile, Poland, Romania, South Africa and Russia mentioned in this regard.

In the South African context, there is a drive, led by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), to urgently address the standard-setting, coordination, planning use and wider provision of career and labour market information. This is evident in the development of a framework for information standards and for the coordination of career guidance information and services, and in the Labour Market Intelligence Project, which includes developing a repository of career and labour market-related information. Although these projects are underway, they will take time, so in the meantime it is up to CDPs to do their own research and build their own databases of work availability information.

Understanding the different job types

A CDP will have many clients seeking different types of work, so they must understand the different job types.

Permanent work. A permanent staff member is employed for an undetermined period with no agreed termination date. The contract can be ended by the employer through dismissal, or by the employee through resignation on notice. Dismissal must be for a fair reason, such as theft, and must follow proper legal procedures such as written warnings or a disciplinary hearing.

Internships. An internship is short-term work experience offered mostly to students or unemployed youth to give entry-level exposure to an industry. Although interns do real work, it is very much a learning experience, ideally spent on relevant projects, learning about the field, making industry connections, and developing hard and soft skills. Internships can sometimes lead to full-time job offers.

Learnerships. A learnership is a work-based educational programme that leads to a nationally recognised qualification directly associated with an occupation, such as an accountant, construction worker, IT technician, health care worker or car mechanic. Learnerships combine classroom-based learning at a college or training centre with applied on-the-job training, so unemployed learners can only participate if an employer is willing to provide the required work experience. Learners are paid a learnership allowance, which is not a salary but a small sum intended to cover expenses such as travel, food and accommodation.

Apprenticeships. An apprenticeship brings together theory, practical work and workplace practice in a chosen trade, with all forms of education and skills development occurring concurrently. A listed trade ends in a trade test, and passing it earns an artisan certificate of competence. Apprenticeships are monitored by the QCTO, with the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) supervising quality assurance on its behalf, moderating trade tests, managing the national database of registered artisan trade assessors and moderators, recording artisan achievements, and recommending certification.

Youth wage subsidy. A wage subsidy aims to reduce youth unemployment by subsidising part of the cost to firms of employing young people. 

Volunteer. Volunteering is an unpaid role in which someone gives their time to help an individual or a non-profit organisation. It is a willing act, done without being forced or paid.

Access to resources

Once a CDP understands the type of employment a client is seeking, it is their responsibility to gather resources specific to that need and refer clients to various sources. The most common and widely available resources are e-resources, and CDPs can sign up to relevant websites to receive job alerts and build their own database of work availability information. Reputable sources include the following.

For permanent work:

- Indeed - https://za.indeed.com/Sa-Permanent-jobs

- Career Junction - https://www.careerjunction.co.za/

- Careers24 - https://www.careers24.com/

- PNet - https://www.pnet.co.za/

- Department of Employment and Labour - http://www.labour.gov.za/

For internships:

- https://za.linkedin.com/jobs/intern-jobs

- https://www.careers24.com/

- https://www.careersportal.co.za/internships

- https://www.puffandpass.co.za/category/internships

- https://www.careerjunction.co.za/jobs/internship

- http://www.labour.gov.za/

For learnerships:

- http://www.labour.gov.za/

- https://za.linkedin.com/jobs/learnership-jobs

- https://www.pnet.co.za/jobs/Learnership.html

- https://za.indeed.com/Learnership-jobs

- https://www.careersportal.co.za/learnerships

- https://availablelearnerships.com/

- https://www.skillsportal.co.za/

For apprenticeships:

- https://za.linkedin.com/jobs/apprenticeship-jobs

- https://www.careersportal.co.za/apprenticeships

- https://za.indeed.com/Apprenticeships-jobs

- https://www.careerjet.co.za/apprentice-jobs.html

- http://www.labour.gov.za/

For volunteer opportunities:

- https://www.lovevolunteers.org/destinations/volunteer-south-africa

- https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-abroad/south-africa

- https://www.gviafrica.co.za/volunteer-in-south-africa/

- https://volunteering.org.za/

- https://www.goodhopevolunteers.com/volunteer-projects-in-south-africa.html