Electricity + Control September 2019

COMMENT

ON THE COVER

A closer look at the unemployment figures

T he other day I found myself engaging a colleague about what seemed, on first reading, to be very, very bad news about jobs losses in South Africa. The unemployment rate had increased from 27.6% to 29% – devastating information by any account. However, what was emphasised to me was that the actual number of people in employment had, in fact, risen by 21 000 over the same period. Admittedly a drop in the ocean – but a drop, nevertheless. And, more people were identifying themselves as actually wanting work, including almost a quarter of a million people who had, previously, been ‘discouraged work seekers’. This resulted in that observed percentage change. Now this is significant – seeing those people putting themselves back into the equation and actively seeking employment. Do they see something that we do not? At the same time, the manufacturing sector is still under enormous pressure which is impacting upon large swathes of industry covered by readers of Electricity+Control . What was even more significant was the jobs that are emerging in the informal sector – rising by a massive 114 000. Again, this is significant. It speaks to people stepping up and finding that niche where they are able to make a living.To me that is a trend to be seriously encouraged. Similar arguments relate to the whole area of job losses associated with automation and new technologies. Make

no mistake, jobs are on the line just about as fast as efficiency improves. The challenge is to identify those areas where new skills are needed and where people can continue to make real impact. Let’s be clear: repetitive or dangerous jobs are going fast; routine jobs (which may well include those routine activities of many rather high-profile professions – such as diagnosing common ailments or dishing out legal advice…) are going to go fast; but non-routine and creative roles will begin to grow, as will the need for new technology related skills. We simply have to be preparing people for that, staying ahead of the wave as it approaches us – and then riding it. The cautionary note is that it is probable that we will not be able to reskill people as fast as their current roles become redundant – a crisis that will need thoughtful management. I am convinced that the rise in jobs in the informal sector is partly due to necessity, but equally due to the courage many are now finding to seek out the need in the market and serve that need.

FEATURES: · Control systems+ automation+ systems engineering · Drives,motors+ switchgear · Energymanagement+ environmental engineering · Plantmaintenance, test+measurement · Sensors, switches+ transducers

energy + information in industry

ECSep 2019 cover.indd 1

8/21/2019 10:42:02AM

Fluke 's new ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager from COMTEST offers maintenance teams a fast, simple way to detect leaks in compressed air, steam, gas and vacuum systems. (Read more on page 11).

Editor: Design & Layout: Advertising Managers:

Leigh Darroll Adél JvR Bothma Helen Couvaras

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Ian Jandrell Karen Grant Wilhelm du Plessis

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Circulation: Quarter 2 (Apr – Jun) 2019 Total print circulation: 4 852

There it is: a spark of good news. Now on with the macro stuff...

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