Can Skills Training Programs Increase Employment of adolescent girls and young women?

 

Jean Damascene Mvunabandi¹, Ferina Marimuthu^2*

¹Dr, Durban University of Technology, SOUTH AFRICA, JeanM2@dut.ac.za

²Dr. Durban University of Technology, SOUTH AFRICA, ferinas@dut.ac.za

*Corresponding Author

 

Abstract

Youth aged 15 to 29 make up about a quarter of the world's population, yet they constitute nearly half of the world's unemployed. This article investigated how employability skills training can foster adolescent girls and young women's (AGYW) employment opportunities and improve their employment pathways in South Africa. This study adopted quantitative and descriptive research approaches via longitudinal data collection. Data was collected from 3 584 AGYWs using a questionnaire survey during employability training in July-October 2021. Robustness analysis was performed using descriptive statistics using SPSS version 28.0. The empirical findings proved that employability skills training significantly improved the capabilities of adolescent girls and young women on labour market assessments. This study proposes a framework for linking AGYWs and the labour market through a conceptualisation of employability skills training capability-based model. The results also contribute to understanding the twelve dominant employability skills variables identified by this research study, as justified with most relevant literature and theories. Further, it contributes to the career development and employability among adolescent girls and young women required to cope with the labour markets in South Africa. The study recommends schools, Universities and other key role players in skills development among employability skills guidelines for ensuring the readiness of young graduates for employment opportunities in South Africa.  

Keywords: Employability skills, Local Labour Market Assessments (LLMAs), Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYWs), Job Search Strategies, Employability Opportunities