Orientation: South Africa is experiencing growth in its graduate labour force, but graduateunemployment is rising with the overall unemployment rate. Graduate unemployment isproblematic, because it wastes scarce human capital, which is detrimental to the economy inthe long run.Research purpose: This study explores the perceived causes of graduate unemployment fromthe perspective of the South African banking sector.Motivation for the study: Researchers have conducted various studies on graduateunemployment in South Africa and across the globe, but few studies have beenconducted on the causes of graduate unemployment. There appear to be some gaps in theliterature; therefore, other problems and solutions to graduate unemployment have to beexploredResearch approach, design and method: The researchers followed a survey design. Questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used as research instruments to identify theperceived causes of graduate unemployment in the banking sector of South Africa. Researchparticipants were unemployed graduates, recently employed graduates and graduaterecruitment managers in the banking sector.Main findings: The study shows that several factors are perceived to be the causes of graduateunemployment in the South African banking sector. These include: skills, institution attendedby graduate and differences in expectations from employers and graduates.Practical/managerial application: The findings have implications for educational institutionsand companies that are encouraged to consider possible solutions to resolving the causes ofgraduate unemployment.Contribution/value-add: This study is one of the first papers to investigate the causes ofgraduate unemployment in the South African banking sector. It provides a rich platform forfurther studies and replication in other sectors, especially within the African context.

This article applied regressions and panel data analysis to determine how micro-economic spillovers enhance the competitiveness of firms and industries. What made this study unique was that it considered the interactions between various spillover factors working simultaneously and their effect on competitiveness and also investigated possible harmful effects of spillovers. Data from the Manufacturing Firm Survey of the World Bank was used, which covered the first decade of the third millennium, including world economic crises. The investigation on sales used cross-sectional regressions, following a survey conducted on sales and competitiveness. The general findings were that FDI and technological expenses offered little spillover advantages to firms, but that spillovers from research and development do enhance competitiveness. Managerial expertise and education of the workforce restrict spillovers and enhance competitiveness, while a larger and less educated workforce increases leakages of information and spillovers, suppressing competitiveness. The results further revealed that exports and spending on communication, machinery and equipment, a trained work force and innovation all enhanced sales, but the numbers of new firms and the number of privately owned businesses suppress competitiveness. Concerning the negative effects of spillovers, corruption, crime, theft and disorder increase spillovers and curb competitiveness. More spending on security decreases these negative spillovers, as does support from well-known suppliers. A larger workforce causes more negative spillovers, as do the number of new and temporary workers, more competitors and new suppliers. The findings of this study will be of special value to managers and project planners.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of human capital in the competitive platform of South African industries and to determine the ability of their human capital to address the challenges of modern technology and globalisation. Attention is given to the competitive strengths and investment opportunities, including the quality and availability of human resources, labour cost, level of education and skills, vocational and industry related training facility, work ethics, productivity, workplace regulations, as well as efficiency of the civil service; including productivity and competitiveness indexes. The study found that the level of human capital in South African industries is much higher than the general perception and not the worst element of South Africa’s competitive platform. The findings also indicated challenges, like absentees due to AIDS and other factors, a shortage of artisans and proficiency towards modern technology and innovation, which limits competitiveness.

Orientation: The key obstacle hindering optimal profitability levels and competitiveness in firms in South Africa is the application of labour legislation policies and tools aimed at narrowing the income gap between different racial groups and resolving inequality amongst a diverse workforce.Research purpose: This article determined whether the implementation of a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy by companies has a positive effect on their growth in terms of profits and competitiveness.Motivation for the study: This study determined whether the implementation of BEE could be profitable for companies.Research design, approach and method: A quantitative study was undertaken in order to find empirical evidence supporting the relation between high BEE Scores, profitability and competitiveness. The empirical investigation utilised regression analysis, correlations and other methods, based on data between January 2009 and December 2011. The BEE Scorecard was used to obtain BEE scores of the top 50 BEE companies. Thereafter, the top 50 companies’ financial information was gathered from the Johannesburg Securities Exchange.Main findings: The implementation of BEE within companies has a positive effect on profitability, turnover and investment. Numerous factors have, however, been hindering,while other factors enhanced the success of BEE.Practical/managerial implications: The findings encourage mangers to engage in BEE as it may facilitate higher profits and indicates where labour legislation could be improved.Contribution/value-add: Value was added through new research determining the effects of BEE and labour legislation on profitability and competitiveness of firms on a micro-level.

The Platinum Spatial Development Initiative (Platinum SDI), located in the North West province of South Africa, is examined in this article. The article commences with a historical synopsis of industrial policy and regional industrial development policy in South Africa. Thereafter the trade and industrial policies of the North West Provincial Government are discussed in the contexts of its economic development strategies 'North West 2001' from 1997, and the 'North West Economic Development and Industrialisation Strategy' from 2002. Various arguments for and against the viability of the Platinum SDI are put forward.

Orientation: A university, and equally so a university campus, has the ability to influence the economy through its sectoral links. This raises the question as to what sectors benefit as a result of expenditure made by a university campus that is situated within a small city in South Africa.Research purpose: This paper identified the university-sector links by applying a bill-of-goods approach to identify which sectors benefit as a result of an operational university campus.Motivation for the study: The findings of this study will be used in refining provincial or local social accounting matrix (SAM) models to improve the measurement of an economic impact assessment for the university campus, especially as SAM models are not readily available on such a micro-level within South Africa.Research design, approach and method: The bill-of-goods is a detailed representation of the purchases of goods and services for the campus. The goods and services are grouped into the corresponding sector according to the Standard Industrial Classification to identify and quantify university-sector linkages.Main findings: The results indicated a significant benefit for tertiary sectors of the economy, which receive approximately 85% of university expenditure. On a sectoral level, there is an increased benefit to the utility, retail and personal services sectors, whereas manufacturing and construction turn out to be less significant. Growth prospects for sectors within the tertiary sectors are higher compared to sectors in the primary and secondary sectors.Practical and managerial implications: Understanding this link enables strategic spatial planning on the part of local government and will enable proactive land-use planning, based on the strength and growth prospects of each individual sector that benefits from university expenditure.Contribution or value-add: This approach provided exceptional value in identifying the sectors that benefit and provide important trend analyses that will be combined with input–output models to improve the accuracy of measuring university impact assessment on a local level.

The effects of location on the international competitiveness of South African industries are investigated in this paper. The relationship between location and its competitiveness platform is important during the establishment of new manufacturing plants, as well as in the designing of industrial development policies by government and industry. This article studies the traditional factors that influence location first, followed by the modern factors, especially those emphasised by the so-called New Economic Geography. Then the empirical findings of a survey conducted among South African manufacturers regarding their location and its influence on their industrial competitiveness are reported.

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