FoodBev Seta recently undertook its annual Labour Market Analysis and a Sector Skills Plan (SSP) for 2008. The Seta has in recent years compiled skills data from company forecasts supplied by the human resources departments and through WSPs, but this information needs to be more accurate to obtain a worthwhile picture of the sector. Consequently, we have contracted a consultancy to develop a skills forecasting tool that companies can use to assist in better identifying their skills needs before submission to FoodBev Seta.

The South African economy is currently expanding at a rate of 4,9% which has implications for job creation, the broadening of the consumer base and improving the environment for investments to promote further economic growth.

The purpose of research into a SSP include amongst other things the identification and qualification of scarce and critical skills. The shortage of skilled labour in South Africa has been identified as a major impediment to the sustainable growth of the economy. This skills shortage extends across all levels, from artisan through to supervisory, management and professional level. With a less skilled workforce and less proficient supervision, industry in the country will find itself prone to slow delivery, significant quality issue, waste and increased production cost.

The research highlighted skills trends in the food and beverages manufacturing sector together with the demand and supply for priority skills and development in the below areas:

Engineering

Trades Workers

Manufacturing

Production

Operations

Support functions