Gumtree: This is how COVID-19 is shaping SA’s jobs market

South Africa's job market has been drastically impacted by the ongoing challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. With experts painting a bleak picture of the country's economic growth prospects, the issue of unemployment continues to be a pressing concern. In the midst of this dire situation, Gumtree South Africa stands out as a beacon of hope, with close to 10,000 live job listings on its platform, offering a glimpse of potential opportunities for job seekers. Claire Cobbledick, General Manager at Gumtree South Africa, sheds light on the current job landscape in a recent interview with CNBC Africa. The 10,000 job listings span across various sectors, ranging from sales and administrative roles to manufacturing and logistics positions. What's particularly noteworthy is the shift in the makeup of employers advertising on Gumtree, with smaller businesses taking the lead post-lockdown. Claire assures that the platform diligently moderates all job listings to ensure credibility and guard against fraudulent activities. However, she acknowledges the presence of unscrupulous practices in the job market and highlights Gumtree's robust vetting process to combat such instances. Through a combination of automated filtering mechanisms, manual moderation by experienced personnel, and community reporting, Gumtree strives to maintain the integrity of its job listings. Despite the prevailing challenges, Gumtree's internal data suggests a semblance of recovery in the job market, with listings showing signs of rebounding to pre-lockdown levels. This resurgence is particularly significant considering the heavy toll on small to medium businesses, which form a significant portion of job advertisers on the platform. The trend of individuals listing jobs directly, as opposed to using professional recruitment services, underscores a shift towards cost-effective hiring practices. With Gumtree serving as a platform for both job seekers and employers, it plays a crucial role in reshaping South Africa's job market amidst the uncertainties of the current economic climate. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, initiatives like those taken by Gumtree offer a glimmer of hope for those navigating the complexities of job hunting in the midst of a global crisis.