In accordance with the Skills Development Act (SDA) section 10(1) each SETA must develop a Sector Skills Plan (SSP) within the framework of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS).

SETA functions have moved from the Department of Labour to the Department of Higher Education and Training. The NSDS 2011-2016 as presented by the Minister of Higher Education and Training sets new priorities in relation to its predecessor (NSDS 2005-2010). The NSDS 2011-2016 sets national priorities in skills development to address the scarcity of skills and the lack of capacity within current labour force to meet the challenges posed by economic growth and poverty alleviation.

In essence the SSPs are five year Sector Education and Training skills development reports prepared by SETAs, aimed at identifying the skills needs of industrial sectors (skills shortages and gaps), as well as constraints to the effective utilisation and development of skills in relation to the objectives of the NSDS, Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (including major projects) and relevant industrial strategies.

Annual updates are annual revisions of the five year SSP and provide SETAs with the opportunity to update and align information to changes that might have occurred in the sector post the submission of the SSP or previous annual update.

The SSP or annual update also provides signals to education and training providers and communities about skills that are currently needed or will be needed in future in the economy.

The SSP and annualupdates provide the base for developing Annual SETA Strategic Plans that outline key strategic interventions to address identified skills needs and constraints to effective recruitment, utilisation and development of skills. These two documents will be used jointly to determine the Service Level Agreement with the Director-General of Higher Education and Training.

Some of the information needed for the compilation of the SSP will be obtained from Workplace Skills Plans (WSP) submitted by companies as required by the Grant Regulations. It must however be noted that information obtained from WSPs will not be sufficient and needs to be supplemented by labour market reports, economic reports and education and training reports generated by a wide range of bodies including other government departments and specialised research agencies. 

Click here to download the 2012-2013 HWSETA SSP Annual Update.