Enhancing economic growth and addressing unemployment through provincial sector skills plans : the case of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Against the backdrop of global labour trends and escalating rates of unemployment, public institutions in South Africa are increasingly pressured to develop innovative strategies for economic growth while prioritising job creation. In this regard the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training (2013) accentuates the role of education and skills development as a contributor to socio-economic development. In response, provincial governments are required to design comprehensive provincial sector skills plans (PSSPs). The successful design of these plans is dependent on extensive consultations and joint planning between key stakeholders to unlock the province’s economic potential and to empower its workforce. Following a qualitative case study design, this article examines the critical role of skills development initiatives in driving economic growth and reducing unemployment with specific reference to the PSSP of the Northern Cape (NC) Province of South Africa. By utilising document analysis and participant observation as data collection methods it explores the significance, approach and design of the province’s PSSP and aims to extract key lessons to be learned from the compilation thereof. Data extracted for this purpose includes statistics from the 2022–2023 NC Provincial Workplace Skills Plan, Annual Training Reports, Statistics SA, Budget Reviews and Estimates of National Expenditure of National Treasury, and the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA). The findings underscore the importance of coordinated efforts in aligning skills development initiatives with broader socio-economic agendas, ultimately contributing to a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous society in the NC Province and beyond.