Johannesburg - While the trend of the global workforce taking up multiple jobs continues to pick up momentum, South Africans find themselves stuck between the increasing cost of living and increasingly tough competition for limited employment opportunities.
This is according to Quest Staffing Solutions chief executive Kay Vittee, who says this trend would be welcomed in South Africa, given the high levels of poverty and unemployment.
“However, the lack of work opportunities remains our only constant in this regard,” she says.
“In the international market, people working multiple jobs rather than having a single full-time career, is predicted to increase.â€ù
Vittee refers to the published views of Dan Schawbel, author and partner and research director at executive development firm Future Workplace.
He focuses on employees needing more flexibility and technology, resulting in the rise of creating new jobs, freelancing and becoming their own boss.
“Schawbel notes that by 2020, about 40 percent of Americans will be part of this gig economy,” she adds.
On the other end of the spectrum, local statistics show that we are facing an unemployment rate of 26.6 percent (Statistics South Africa, Q2) and concerning levels of poverty.
“This is evidenced by the findings from a recent study undertaken by Ilifa Labantwana, the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, which reveals that about 63 percent of South African children are currently living in poverty.
“All this against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, sluggish growth and increasing prices of food and other essentials like transport, coupled with fewer work opportunities for skills that do not fall within high-demand sectors, such as engineering or medicine.”
The 2014 Quest White Paper, A Report on The Multiple Jobs Trend and Factors Affecting Employment in South Africa, found that only4 percent of research participants worked more than one job and the majority (60 percent) were unemployed. Eighty percent of the survey respondents did note, however, that they would consider taking on an additional job.
“I believe that the same would be true today,” Vittee says.
“Having said that, it’s vital that we pay more attention to the underlying issues of creating work opportunities, developing skills and combating poverty.
“While government initiatives are a great start and should definitely be bolstered, the private sector and job-seekers themselves also have a responsibility here.
“Businesses can definitely up their game in the development space and create opportunities through corporate social investment initiatives.
“Job-seekers should also consider other avenues such as temporary employment and internships which can go a long way in building up their experience and resumes, “she concludes.
THE STAR