Bleak outlook for school leavers

With only around 7% of South Africa’s matriculants expected to find work, employers are being encouraged to interact with schools in an effort to ensure young people are making correct study choices. According to Liza van Wyk, CEO of management training and business support company BizTech, at least a quarter of a million graduates are without jobs already. “Too many young people are not receiving guidance on career choices at school level. They are selecting easy courses at school and then can’t get into university and battle to qualify for a decent diploma course,” said Van Wyk. “After that it is downhill, and they join the growing ranks of South Africa’s unemployed and unemployable.”