Employment services company Manpower South Africa has revealed that, of the 755 employers that participated in its Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, 13% of employers plan to hire new staff members in the first quarter of 2016, while 6% expect to let staff members go, amounting to a 7% increase in the net employment outlook.

The survey clarifies that, when adjusted for seasonal variation, the overall net employment outlook for Q1 of 2016 is plus 5%.

The report further indicates that 77% of firms are looking to keep their workforce steady, while 4% are unsure about their hiring plans.

The main sectors looking to hire are the public and social sectors, as well as the transport, storage and communications sectors, which are all expecting a 10% increase in employment.

In addition, firms in the agriculture, hun- ting, forestry and fishing, manufacturing and hospitality sectors are expected to increase employment by 9%, while the net employment outlook in the mining and quarrying industry, and the construction industry, is expected to contract by 6% and 8% respectively.

The province showing the highest propensity for employment is KwaZulu-Natal, with a net employment outlook of 8%, and a 3% increase since the last quarter.

The Western Cape, Free State and Gauteng show a net employment outlook increase of 6%, while net employment is expected to decrease in the Eastern Cape by 1%.

The survey does not elaborate on the specific volume of people that will be hired and retrenched by each of the 755 firms.

Call Centre Potential
Manpower South Africa highlights the importance of the local call centre industry in finding a solution to South Africa’s unemployment rate.

“A number of students who complete their matric studies do not have the funds to pursue a tertiary education or they need to begin working to support their families; it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find employment, as most businesses are looking for candidates with years of experience in a particular field,” explains Manpower South Africa MD Lyndy van den Barselaar.

The South African call centre industry offers opportunities for school leavers who have little to no work experience, but good communication, people and interpersonal skills. Additionally, computer literacy and being able to speak more than one language are major benefits for those seeking employment in this industry.

Generally, intensive training is offered on all aspects of the job, and those who excel in their role can quickly move up the ladder in the call centre environment.

It was reported that the South African call centre industry created 14 000 jobs from 2010 to 2012, showing 18% growth year-on-year.

The most call centres are in the Western Cape, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, says Van den Barselaar.

She adds that the presence of big brand names in the country has helped organisations to discover the call centre opportunities in South Africa, noting that, in 2010, US-based online retailer Amazon established a Cape Town-based call centre to service its US and German markets.

“Others that have set up their own call centres in South Africa are Shell and Lufthansa, whose call centres have been present since 1998.”

Van den Barselaar explains that various positions, other than a call centre agent, are available, including team leader, supervisor and call centre manager, as well as trainers and quality assessors.

“Call centres are necessary in many different sectors in South Africa, including insurance, automotive, sales, business, financial, retail, information technology and basic services. Each industry will have different requirements and opportunities for jobseekers, based on their skills and experience.”

She notes that growth in this industry is expected to continue, as more local and international organisations become aware of the country’s capabilities in this space.

“This industry is bound to continue creating thousands of jobs a year, assisting with the fight against unemployment and poverty in South Africa. School leavers, graduates and jobseekers should not overlook this industry when . . . starting a career, as the communication and interpersonal skills acquired in this industry are beneficial in any job and any industry,” Van den Barselaar concludes.