Can Training in Employability Skills Help Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa Increase Their Employment Opportunities?

Jean Damascene Mvunabandi; Msizi Mkhize; Ferina Marimuthu; Bomi Cyril Nomlala; Lawrence Gadzikwa

doi:10.30588/jmp.v12i2.1229

Authors

Jean Damascene Mvunabandi Durban University of Technology
Msizi Mkhize University of KwaZulu Natal
Ferina Marimuthu Durban University of Technology
Bomi Cyril Nomlala University of KwaZulu-Natal
Lawrence Gadzikwa Hand in Hand Southern Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30588/jmp.v12i2.1229

Keywords:

Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYWs), Employability opportunities, Employability skills, Local Labour Market Assessments (LLMAs), Job search strategies

Abstract

This article investigated how employability skills training can be used to foster adolescent girls' and young women's employment opportunities and to improve their employment pathways in South Africa. This study adopted quantitative and descriptive research approaches via longitudinal data collection. Secondary data was collected from 3584 AGYWs using a questionnaire survey during employability training from 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. Relying on these empirical findings, this study proposes a framework for linking AGYWs and the labour market through an employability skills training capability-based conceptualised model. The results of this study will fill a gap in understanding the twelve dominant employability skills variables identified by this research study which has justified with most relevant literature and theories in particular. This study contributes to the current body of knowledge and further 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.

Author Biographies

Jean Damascene Mvunabandi, Durban University of Technology

Dr Jean Damascene Mvunabandi Ph.D. (UKZN), MCom (UKZN), BCom Honours (NUR)

Dr. Jean Damascene Mvunabandi is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) He received his Ph.D. in Accounting in 2022 from University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has vast experience of accounting auditing and forensic education. He has relevant research experience. He teaches financial accounting at the 3rd level. He’s passionate about imparting knowledge to students on Accounting, Fraud, and auditing. He is a member of the following professional bodies: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (Associate), Institute of Business Advisors South Africa (IBASA), and Macroeconomics Research Unit at UKZN. Particular interest in academia and management environment, he has demonstrable ability to facilitate online teaching. He is also passionate about research and teaching, and the following are his interest areas:

Accounting sciences
Auditing and Forensic auditing,
Digital Forensics/Electronic Evidence,
Taxation
Business studies and business risk management,
Financial Decision Analysis,
Theoretical and field study of accounting, auditing, taxation
Theoretical and field study of financial accounting
Theoretical and field study of forensic auditing techniques,
Theoretical and field study of fraud risk management
Theoretical and field study financial performance.

Msizi Mkhize, University of KwaZulu Natal

Professor at University of KwaZulu Natal, School of Accounting Economics and Finance,

Dean of Teaching and learning, Colleage of Law and Management Studies

Ferina Marimuthu, Durban University of Technology

Senior Lecturer (Ph.D.) Durban University of Technology, Head of Department of Financial Accounting, Faculty of Accounting and Informatics

Bomi Cyril Nomlala, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Dr. Bomi Nomlala is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). He received his Ph.D. in Accounting in 2019. He has over fifteen years of auditing/forensic education and public sector experience. He teaches Auditing at the 2nd and 3rd levels. Before joining UKZN in 2007, he worked for Auditor-General South Africa as a trainee up until a manager position. He’s passionate about imparting knowledge to students on Accounting, Fraud, and auditing. He is a member of the following professional bodies SAICA, ACFE, and ISACA. He is also passionate about research, and the following are his interest areas

Audit Education.
Fraud Awareness and prevention
Public sector accounting.
IT Audit.
Financial Capability.
Financial Literacy.
Forensic Accounting and Financial Knowledge.

Lawrence Gadzikwa, Hand in Hand Southern Africa

Expert in Management, entrepreneurship and business,

CEO-Hand in Hand Southern Africa

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