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COST OF BEING JOBLESS

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One of the most challenging issues we face today is that many people, especially the youth, are struggling to find jobs. Not only because jobs are scarce, but also because the job seeking exercise itself requires money.


While entrepreneurship is encouraged as one way out of unemployment, the reality is there can only be so many entrepreneurs in a country. Besides, the Ease of Doing Business of a country needs to encourage people to venture into business. So far our ratings are not so convincing but to our credit, each month we do see progress locally in that aspect.


In the meantime though, many jobless people are still stuck in the desire for going the trusted route for economic freedom by seeking employment. 

application


Recently, Forbes Africa magazine ran a feature looking into the costs of seeking a job. The analyst or writer correctly noted that when you are looking for a job you first need money to pay for typing, printing and packaging in an envelope your job application.


The second cost is that of transport to the potential employer where you are to deliver the application. The next is that of having to attend an interview (which you may not pass) with hundreds of other people. All this costs money. And as an unemployed graduate with no allowance to help you fund all this, it all becomes an uphill battle. Director at The Centre For Social Development In Africa, Leila Patel told radio 702 that research shows that the cost for one young person to look for work amounts to R938 a month in neighbours South Africa. The costs may almost be similar locally.

These experts are calling for more support for young people looking for jobs. The support suggested is empowerment  programmes from government, and also direct support in the form of helping with those CVs and transport costs from those closest to the job seekers.
For example, if you have a printer, help print out someone’s CV for free and if you can drop off someone for a job interview, do so. We are afterall blessed to be blessings.


Two weeks ago we read about the Ministry of Labour’s plans to create a sort of register for all unemployed people in the country. This is a brilliant idea. But like all ideas it needs to be executed well and have a sustainable implementation strategy.

information


For one, they should consider having this database online so that people anywhere in the country can upload their details without having to go to the capital city with hard copies of their information. Making the process digital would also enable it to be manually updated so that if someone has obtained a job, he or she can delete their profile from the database.

Also, by making it digital it would cut the transport expenses as aforementioned, there is little if any money to fund the job seeking exercise. And by being digital it will also be open to the private sector seeking certain skills.


Most job seekers are saved by short loans from friends and family. However, people usually loan people money if there is a possibility of repayment. So again that is a challenge. For graduates perhaps, their final year allowance can have a provision to help them fund this job seeking exercise. A provision that will enable them to survive the first two months of unemployment as they try to integrate into the job world.

combination


Last week the country hosted the Fourth Industrial Revolution Leadership Seminar in Ezulwini. I was amused by one of the comments on social media when someone asked what the summit is all about. The comment responded, ‘It is VUCA.’ Well thanks to data bundles, I then googled what this VUCA is.  The definition I got was VUCA is Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. This is a combination of qualities that when taken together, characterise the nature of some difficult conditions and situations.


From that definition, the comment suggests the seminar was much ado about nothing. Which is quite a misleading notion really.
As aforementioned in previous articles being a nation facing economic challenges, it is essential to be looking out at any possible solutions that may enable us to do things at a lesser cost than we did yesterday. And it is also essential that we have a mindset shift and resist having phobia against technologies that can help us cut costs.


During one of the sessions, the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) Chief Executive Officer Makhosami Dlamini, once noted that if adopted well, technology would ensure more things are done in less time.

interaction


He made the example of having to drive to various constituencies to make a presentation, yet one could simply schedule a SKYPE video call that would beam to all the constituencies at once from an office, have interaction and also the same results, therefore cutting travel costs. This was just one simple example of how technology really is not VUCA as some people think. There is a famous quote that if you want to hide something from someone put it in a book because reading culture is not so popular.


Indeed these days, looking at rapidly advancing economies, you can see its those that have overcome their red tape and challenges by embracing technologies. The costs of being unemployed have been cut drastically in these nations because most of these job interviews are done online including aptitude tests. You also send your CV and application online instead of travelling and only the shortlisted candidates have to come for the final interview.


As the nation continues to look for ways to ensure that the quality of life is better for all, we trust that the jobless are also not left behind and so too must cutting the costs of job seeking.
 

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