Abstract:
This paper examines the perspectives of the Department of Employment and Labour employees and
jobseekers on the usage of the Employment Services South Africa (ESSA) system. The system's
primary aim is to place unemployed South Africans in available job opportunities by facilitating
information sharing between employers and jobseekers based on the jobseekers’ qualifications and
experience. Data was collected from 34 respondents, including employees of the Department of
Employment and Labour and jobseekers, through qualitative interviews. The findings revealed that
many unemployed jobseekers did not effectively use the ESSA system. While the ESSA system is
valued by the Department of Employment and Labour employees, its adoption, perceived usefulness,
accuracy, and effectiveness among jobseekers are lacking. The system still struggles with low
visibility, a lack of awareness, and trust among jobseekers, who often look elsewhere for effective
recruitment.
