This high churn rate means that job creation efforts do not have a lasting impact. Those tasked with tackling unemployment recognize that a lack of ‘work-readiness’ is the primary factor in high attrition.

An unfortunate reality is that a majority of entry-level employees lack the soft skills required to not only secure a job, but also to maintain one, and to further develop their employability. Lulaway interacts with thousands of job seekers on a daily basis and understands the negative impact of this skills shortage from an individual to a national level.

With this in mind, Lulalab, as an affiliate of Lulaway, was conceived to address these challenges in the unique South African context. Lulalab runs an Early Employment Support Programme comprised of work readiness training and ongoing support throughout the duration of their first year of employment with our placement partners. The work readiness programme not only aims to inform the youth about workplace expectations and etiquette, but also to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the world of work.

Through the services provided to candidates since inception, Lulalab has managed to improve entry-level staff retention by 15%. This is evidence of the fact that cultivating work readiness skills is a key factor in driving sustainable and secure livelihoods.