Post-School Education and training-uptake in labour market trends. Risenga Maluleke Statistics South Africa

“The single most important investment any country can make is in its people.” National Development Plan

Between 1996 and 2016 we have seen significant changes in the education landscape

Source CS 2016

Enrolments at educational institutions, 2016 The gross enrolment rate for black Africans in primary school was 124,3% showing the high number of enrolment of learners outside the school-age range More white children enrol in ECD institutions compared to the other population groups. Source: Community Survey 2016

Mean years of schooling by population group, 2016 Black Africans spend on average the shortest time in schooling (8,3 years) Whites spent the longest period at an educational institution, with an average of 11,4 years of schooling Source: Community Survey 2016

However the Apartheid legacy continues to reflect in current statistics for post school education

There have been large increases in absolute numbers of higher education participants

The number of students in higher education grew by Growth in student numbers: 2006–2015 The number of students in higher education grew by 32,8% from 2006 to 2015 North West (2006:38708) (2015: 64070); Zululand (2006: 10591) (2015: 16891); Fort Hare (2006: 8526) (2015: 13458) Source: Department of Higher Education

However the gap between different population groups is still very evident

Absolute vs Proportions Graduate rates per 1000 of Total Population Group* Absolute numbers of Graduates* Source: Adapted from HE Broekhuizen (Hemis Aggregate Figures) Excludes undergraduate diplomas and certificates Source: Adapted from HE Broekhuizen (Hemis Aggregate Figures ) with addition of population estimates for time points Excludes undergraduate diplomas and certificates

25% Source CS 2016

Educational attainment among individuals aged 25-64 by population group, 2016 Whites and Indians have the highest proportion of post-secondary graduates Post Secondary Secondary Primary No Schooling Majority (13,4 million) reached secondary education Large number of black Africans who dropped out of school with some primary education level (3 million)

The Current Labour Market

36,9 million 15,1 million Not economically active* 21,8 million The labour market Q4:2016 36,9 million people of working age in South Africa (15 – 64 year olds) 15,1 million Not economically active* 21,8 million Labour force *Of which 2,3 million were discouraged work seekers 16,1 million Employed 5,8 million Unemployed ILO hierarchy – Employed first then unemployed and the remainder is NEA (including discouraged job-seekers). 3 mutually exclusive groups. Cannot be in two groups at the same time NDP target 2030 Employment: 24 million Source: QLFS, Q4:2016

Within the labour market The benefits of further education are clear

Source CS 2016

Graduate Unemployment falls rapidly after age 25 Graduate unemployment for selected age groups Graduate Unemployment falls rapidly after age 25 Source Nesstar Data Retrieval: Quarterly Labour Force Survey (3rd Quarter 2016)

Blockages within Tertiary Education

30% graduated within regulation time for a 3 year degree Of the 2008 cohort of first-time entering students (excluding UNISA) 30% graduated within regulation time for a 3 year degree Source: VitalStats Public Higher Education 2014 from Council for Higher Education Adapted from http://www.che.ac.za/focus_areas/higher_education_data/2013/overview

How has the South African workforce shifted in terms of skill levels since 1994?

There were much weaker gains in the black African group for all ages Percentage of workers in each age group who are skilled (managers, professionals, technicians) 1994 2014 The percentage of workers in skilled occupations increased in all age and all race groups, except for black Africans aged 25-34, which decreased There were much weaker gains in the black African group for all ages

The challenges to achieving the demographic dividend are also seen in the drivers of poverty

CS 2016

Main contributors to poverty amongst Youth (15-24) The major contributor to the poverty situation of the youth in South Africa is educational attainment. Source CS 2016

Does the nation see education as a challenge?

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