Notable jump in online hiring activity, particularly in the engineering sector.
There are factors that justify differentiation in terms and conditions of employment, according to the Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Equity director Ntsoaki Mamashela. Statistics South Africa data for the third quarter of the year shows a decrease in the unemployment rate, while online recruitment platform CareerJunction registers an uptick in online hiring activity. Meanwhile, Cisco’s Global Hybrid Work Report shows that 86 percent of South African employees surveyed feel that hybrid and remote working has improved all aspects of their wellbeing – compared to a world average of 78 percent.
Unemployment rate decreases
The unemployment rate again declined in the third quarter of 2022 and is now at 32.9 percent. This is according to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force survey.
Unemployment according to the expanded definition, which includes discouraged jobseekers, stands at 43.1 percent.
The biggest industry contributors to the increase in jobs were the manufacturing, trade and construction sectors.
Happy with remote and hybrid working
A recent Cisco Global Hybrid Work Report shows that 86 percent of South African employees surveyed feel that hybrid and remote working has improved all aspects of their wellbeing. The report shows the world average to be 78 percent.
The report, which included a survey of 28,000 full-time employees in 27 countries, revealed that for most people, work performance improved along with employees’ relationships and even personal confidence.
“While initially, many employees were challenged by the sudden shift to hybrid and remote working arrangements, our study shows that two years on, as businesses have pivoted to survive, hybrid work has yielded many positive and lasting benefits for both employers and employees. In fact, this mode of working has become the norm and is set to stay,” the report reads.
There were, however, differences in generational experiences, with 70.3 percent of Gen Zs saying that their quality of work improved with hybrid work, compared to 49 percent of baby boomers.
Engineering sees increase in online hiring activity
The latest Employment Insights Report from CareerJunction showed a 17 percent increase in online hiring activity for civil, mechanical, and structural engineers, as well as other architecture and engineering jobs.
The recruitment platform said overall hiring activity across all industries decreased by four percent between September and October 2022.
In terms of relocating for a job, the data shows that 41 percent of telecommunications professionals were willing to do so, as were 44 percent of finance professionals.
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Meanwhile, 58 percent of medical and health professionals and 56 percent of architecture and engineering professionals were also willing to relocate to get hired.
Remuneration and fair discrimination
There are factors that justify differentiation in terms and conditions of employment. This is according to the Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Equity director Ntsoaki Mamashela.
“If employees perform work that is of equal value, a difference in terms and conditions of employment, including remuneration, is not unfair discrimination, if the difference is fair and rational,” she said at a recent stakeholder engagement workshop.
