GRADE 9
Read the article “Get work-ready with scarce skills” and answer the questions that follow. The
purpose of the activity is to learn about scarce skills, with a specific reference to an artisan career
path as an attractive and accessible career choice.
Get work-ready with scarce skills
Imagine this: You’ve just finished your studies and you’re in high demand. You don’t find jobs; jobs
find you. This could be a reality. How? With a scarce skill.
If you’ve heard of ‘scarce skills’ before, but have never really understood what it means, you’ve
come to the right place. This could be the key to unlocking a bright future.
What is a scarce skill?
Let’s first talk about the word ‘scarce’. The Oxford Dictionary defines this word as “insufficient for
the demand”. Let’s use a simple example. In Cape Town, water is currently scarce. What that means
is that there is not enough of it (insufficient) for all the people that need it (the demand).
Scarcity can become a reality quite quickly. One minute there are enough people with a needed
skill; the next minute, there’s a lack.
How does the situation change so
quickly?
Well, scarcity develops if:
• not enough people have chosen
to study towards a qualification that offers a certain skill set (those people did not read up on ‘
scarce skills’)
• the ‘brain drain’ takes effect, where
skilled people leave the country to
work overseas
• there are too many people who study qualifications that already have enough skilled workers
or
• special experience is required
This means that employers cannot find people who have the skills they require.
So, what’s in it for me?
Well, quite a bit. As we’ve mentioned, employers are on the lookout for people with scarce skills.
The latest unemployment rate in South Africa stands at 26,6%. In case you’re wondering, this is not
a good number and it’s not fun being a part of this statistic.
Fact: If you have a scarce skill, you have opportunities aplenty.
Firstly, jobs won’t be hard to come by. This is huge. Finding work is not a walk in the park,
especially in South Africa – remember that unemployment rate we just saw?
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Grade 9, Term 1, English Home Language: Reading, comprehension and language skills
Scarce skills
Which skills are scarce?
There is a range of skills that make it onto the ‘scarce skills’ list. Thanks to the Department of
Higher Education and Training (DHET), we know what these skills are. The DHET regularly puts
together a list of the top 100 scarce skills in the country.
To break it down, here are three of the major job categories in need of skilled labour:
• Professionals
• Technicians
• Artisans/trade workers
This is where things get interesting. All
three of these categories contain a few
jobs, some of which might interest you.
Here are some of the jobs that fall into
each of the categories:
Jobs in the professional sector include:
• Architect
• Teacher
• Engineer (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical)
• Finance professional (accountant, actuary)
• Health professional (nurse, medical doctor, hospital pharmacist)
• Information and computer professional (software developer, network analyst)
• Natural and physical science professionals (geologist, veterinarian)
Jobs in the technician sector include:
• Chemistry technician
• Computer technician
• Draughtsperson
• Forensic technician
• Fire investigator
• Manufacturing technician
Jobs in the artisan/workers sector include:
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Toolmaker
• Carpenter and joiner
• Welder
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GRADE 9
Grade 9, Term 1, English Home Language: Reading, comprehension and language skills
Other benefits include:
• More funding opportunities are available to those who study towards a scarce skill qualification
• There is a good chance of getting a high salary
• The opportunity to progress in your career
• Some scarce skills are scarce all over the world, so you could have the opportunity to work abroad
GRADE 9
It’s important to note that many of the jobs on the scarce skills list require school subjects
such as Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy), Science and Information Technology (IT).
Adapted from: goo.gl/kx3Vnp
Please answer the following questions based on the article above. Mark allocations are a guideline
only for educators.
1. Define the word ‘scarce’. (2)
2. Give a synonym and an antonym for the word ‘lack’.
(2)
3. Explain what a ‘funding opportunity’ is. (2)
4. The following are examples of idioms. Describe what an idiom is, and what these mean in the
context of the article.
a. Brain drain
(4)
b. Unlocking a bright future
(4)
c. The game plan
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(4)
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Grade 9, Term 1, English Home Language: Reading, comprehension and language skills
Get skilled
If you’re sold on the idea of developing a scarce skill, we have a game plan for you.
The game plan: Study a qualification that gives you a scarce skill. This is your secret weapon to
having a competitive edge in the job market. Then you can land a job in no time.
6. What is an ‘unemployment rate’?
(2)
7. Name the three categories of jobs listed on the scarce skills list.
(3)
TOTAL: 25 marks
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GRADE 9
(2)
Grade 9, Term 1, English Home Language: Reading, comprehension and language skills
5. List two occupations that are considered trades.