This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
Engineering News reports that the agricultural sector is one of few that observed employment gains over the second quarter of this year, adding 69,000 people to its combined workforce. But industry body Agri SA is concerned about a decline in the skilled workforce in the sector.
The employment gains were recorded across operations in the Western Cape, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo. Some provinces, however, experienced employment decreases, including the Eastern Cape (19,000), Northern Cape (9,000), Gauteng (8,000) and Mpumalanga (18,000). Agri SA expressed concern about the decrease in the skilled agricultural workforce, as it recorded a loss in employment from 62,000 in the first quarter to 45,000 in the second quarter. This marked a 27.4% quarter-on-quarter decrease and a 33.2% year-on-year decrease. Noting that more had to be done to accelerate skills development efforts in the sector, Agri SA’s Enterprises subsidiary has established the Agri Enterprises Training and Development Academy with the purpose of providing industry-specific training in scarce skills within the sector. “We can develop a community of lifelong learners, responsible citizens and champions of industries,” Agri SA investor relations administrator Lebogang Sethusha said.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page