Among other things, job searchers were given the chance to upload their resumé to the Employment System of South Africa database (Essa), which allows them to be linked with potential employers.

The event took place at the Dr Molemela Indoor Sports Arena in Bloemfontein on Thursday (24/10) and Friday (25/10). SAPS was part of the event assisting job seekers with certifying their documents, SARS was giving out tax numbers, and various recruitment companies assisted to get them on the system.

“At the moment we are busing taking CVs for those looking for employment and then we will be capturing them onto our database in case there is something that we get somewhere and they can be employed,” said Bloemfontein Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) employee, Neo Monnaruri.

“The advice I have for people looking for jobs is to upload their CV as it is way easier because when we take hard copies it takes long to capture them.

“For the youth who are here I really hope they can be employed because I see the unemployment rate is very high,” she said.

The career fair aimed to connect job seekers with potential employers, and provide space for various organisations to present careers and other placement opportunities for job seekers.

Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that the official unemployment rate increased by 0.6 percentage points from 32.9% in the first quarter of the year to 33.5% in the second quarter.

BusinessTech reports Stats SA noted that women in South Africa continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of unemployment, underemployment, and lower workforce participation compared to men.

Youth aged 15-24 years and 25-34 years continue to have the highest unemployment rates at 60.8% and 41.7%, respectively.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame