• Last week, the Western Cape Government held the first of five youth recruitment drives planned for this year.
• The drive saw 1 000 youth given learnership opportunities in the business process outsourcing sector.
• Provincial government hopes to help as many as 5 000 unemployed youth find work this year.

Last week the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism hosted a recruitment drive together with 12 employers from the region offering learnerships to the youth.

The recruitment drive saw these employers interviewing unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 34 with a Grade 12 or equivalent qualification. The employers were from the business process outsourcing sector.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is explained by Gartner as the process whereby a business hands off one or more IT responsibilities to an external provider. This provider then administrates and manages these services as per the businesses needs.

“The BPO sector is a vibrant and growing sector of the Western Cape’s economy, with Cape Town and the Western Cape recognised as the leading location in South Africa for global business services delivery,” explained Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.

The recruitment drive will see as many as 1 000 youths joining the BPO sector, albeit in a somewhat temporary capacity.

As per a press release from government, the opportunity includes a 12-month on-the-job learnership within a BPO company which includes a monthly stipend. Upon completion of the learnership, the participant will receive a qualification equivalent to an NQF level 3.

“I had the pleasure of meeting with some of the applicants as well as the companies present at the drive at the Athlone Stadium on Friday and what struck me was the hope and enthusiasm in all who I met,” said Wenger.

“The fact is that far too many young people struggle to find work which is why the Western cape Government works with the private sector to create more opportunities for our young residents,” the minister added.

This recruitment drive is the first of five planned by the Western Cape Government for the 2023/24 financial year. In total the government hopes to give as many as 5 000 young people in the region job opportunities.

“What is truly impressive is that 80 percent of those who complete the programme are transitioned into a formal job, giving them the opportunity to live a life they value, to support themselves and their families. We will continue to partner with key stakeholders in the private sector so we can help create many more opportunities for those wishing to find work in the province,” Wenger concluded.

[Image – Cytonn Photography on Unsplash]