OTE2601
ASSIGNMENT 2
2023
ASSIGNMENT 2 OTE2601 2023
, QUESTION 1
1.1 The level of skills training of the population and the productivity of labour
play an important role in South Africa’s ability to satisfy the needs of its
inhabitants. Distinguish between the different levels of skills in South Africa.
• An unskilled occupation requires no training. Unskilled labourers include cleaners,
labourers, bus conductors and hospital porters. Training is done on the job when it is
required to maintain standards and to stay abreast of changes.
• A semi-skilled occupation requires a certain amount of basic training. Semi-skilled
labourers include factory machine operators, typists, or waiters. At this level,
refresher courses are given so that employees can improve their skills when
necessary.
• A skilled occupation is one for which several years of training is necessary.
Jewellers, electricians, carpenters, secretaries and building supervisors are
examples of skilled labourers. During training, people become aware of the
commitment expected if they are to maintain the expected standard of service.
• A professional and managerial occupation normally requires high qualifications
(either from a Technicon, university, or technical college) and specialisation in a
certain direction, for example, lawyers, social workers, teachers, doctors, engineers,
opticians, and chemists.
• South Africa currently has a lack of skilled labour. At the same time, there are huge
numbers of people in the country who do not have the necessary skills to make a
productive contribution to society.
• John Stuart Mill (in Barker & Backer 1992:40) aptly expresses the above problem:
“It is vain to say that all the mouths which the increase of mankind calls into
existence, bring with them hands. The new mouths require as much food as the old
ones, and the hands do not produce us as much.”
Skills supply
On the supply side, the economy's skill stock is of primary importance. An awareness
of both the present supply of labour in the country (i.e., the labour force) and the mix
of skills (or
qualifications) available is essential for analysing the current stock of skills (or the
current skills supply). It's worth noting that analysing skill supply in terms of
occupations isn't always practical, especially in countries like South Africa, where a
big number of the unemployed have never worked before and hence have no distinct
occupation. A consideration of the future talents supply necessitates more
knowledge beyond that which is available now. Detail regarding the education and
skills pipelines becomes important, as does information on demographic trends,
migration, and trends in labour force participation.