The City of Cape Town recently hosted the final event in a series of careers expos at the Civic Centre in the CBD. The event attracted 480 young people from across the city and gave them the opportunity to network with City departments and exhibitors to gain insight into available career choices.
The final youth career expo for this year, spearheaded by the City of Cape Town’s Transversal Youth Development Work Stream in conjunction with other City departments, provided the youth with information on City-specific career options.
The careers expo was appropriately themed as ‘My Career. My City. My Choice.’
The key question that is most often on young people’s minds is ‘How do I get a job at the City’?
City officials on hand introduced youths to available City careers related to their skills and qualifications, and helped them identify the key skills needed in order to become successful City of Cape Town professionals. They were afforded the opportunity to learn how to develop skills in communication, self‐presentation and networking which will prepare them for job interviews and other professional interactions through interactive facilitated sessions.
‘Relevant education is a critical determinant of young people’s future work prospects, earnings and contribution to the economy of Cape Town. Generally, school enrolment is high, however according to the 2011 Census data, only 40% of young people between the ages of 20 and 24 years have a matric (Grade 12) certificate. There is also a significant skills mismatch whereby temporary employment in the low skill sector in Cape Town is high while there is requirement for more highly skilled workers. This means that many of these young people will face long periods of unemployment,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Raelene Arendse.
The expo was the first step for young people to develop relationships with the City as a future potential employer. This could lead to job shadowing, work integrated learning studentships, graduate internships, class visits, on-the-job training, and other work‐based learning partnerships.
Each department presented their various career options that are available within their areas of expertise. The youth had the opportunity to enquire about what each department does and what City officials within the departments do, how they got to their current position, and what qualifications are needed.
The expo also highlighted the scarce skills within the City that are linked to bursaries.
In terms of employment, according to the 2013 Labour Force Survey, 60, 96% of youth between the ages of 15 – 24 years old are considered to be NEETs (not in employment, education and training). The 2011 Census data also showed that the official unemployment rate in the 20 – 24 year age group was 40,32% at the time. This indicates that many young people struggle to make the transition to becoming economically independent.
‘Last year Council adopted the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan (ODTP). One of the ODTP’s key priorities is to ensure economic inclusion especially for our future generation by providing bursaries in areas of scarce skills and offering apprenticeships and other forms of work experience to prepare young people for the world of work. As a local government, we need to make sure that our youths are not the forgotten and lost generation as they are the future of this country,’ added Councillor Suzette Little, Mayoral Committee Member for Area North.
The career expo targeted learners from Grades 8-12, aged between 14 – 21 years of age.