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