Changing Artisanal Identity and Status

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The unfolding South African story Discussions around the increase in number and improved quality of artisans have been widely supported. There is, however, a need for the notion of artisan is to be interrogated. This compelling study does this by exploring two focus trades in the manufacturing sector in South Africa and evaluating the changes to artisan identity and status. By extending a methodological framework for studying professions, the study adds to the academic engagement on understanding artisan identity and status. In addition, it contributes to the international literature on artisans, which seldom focuses on the level of trade and is often highly compartmentalised. Changing artisanal identity and status: The unfolding South African story is therefore a vital resource for those interested and invested in the future of artisans and understanding how this profession unfolds in the manufacturing, engineering and related services sector.

CONTENTS

List of tables

List of Figures

List of acronyms

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: Concepts and design toward an understanding of artisan identity and status in a changing landscape

1.1 Clarifying key concepts

1.1.1 What is an artisan?

1.1.2 What is an identity?

1.1.3 What is an artisanal identity?

1.1.4 Artisan identity and status

1.1.5 Why is it important to study artisan identity and status?

1.2. A sociology of professions approach to the study of artisan identity and status

1.2.1 Methodological and analytical framing

Chapter 2: Methods and design to investigate the characteristics of a shifting occupational milieu
Introduction

2.1. Establishing the demand for artisanal skills: Data limitations, datasets and methodology

2.1.1 Occupational data

2.1.2 Educational data

2.1.3 Implications for interpretation

2.2 Establishing artisanal skills supply

2.2.1 Learnership and apprenticeship datasets

2.2.2 INDLELA dataset

2.2.3 In summary

2.3 Establishing the nature of an artisanal occupational milieu

2.3.1 Data collection methods � Interviews, newspaper articles, policy documents

2.3.2 Two trades in the merSETA sector as case study

2.3.3 Sample distribution

2.3.4 Coding

Chapter 3: The labour market and milieu for artisans in South Africa � A focus on the manufacturing, engineering and related services sector
Introduction

3.1. Characteristics and key trends in artisanal employment (2006 � 2011)

3.1.1Employment growth in the sector within a national context of decline in artisanal employment

3.1.2 Growth in employment of artisanal workers with higher qualifications

3.1.3 Decline in employment of women since 2005

3.1.4 Racial profiles of those in artisanal employment virtually unchanged since 2005

3.1.5 Younger with higher levels of qualification and Black

3.1.6 Urban formal employment in biggest and affluent provinces most likely

3.2. Implications for the nature of demand for artisanal skills and associated identities and status

Chapter 4: The state of artisanal training and skills � A focus on the manufacturing, engineering and related services sector
Introduction

4.1 Characteristics and key trends in artisanal skilling (2006 � 2011)

4.1.1 Racial trends in the nature of participation evident

4.1.2 Trend towards younger participants

4.1.3 Males dominate participation in artisanal training

4.1.4 Employed individuals more prone to enter into apprenticeships

4.1.5 Shifts in artisanal skills provisioning has negatively impacted on artisanal status

4.1.5.1 A strong positive association with the concept of apprenticeship remains

4.1.5.2 Negative views on the contribution of FET Colleges as central to provision of artisanal training

4.1.6 Shifting notions of artisanal identity and status

4.2. Implications for the nature of artisanal skills supply and associated identities and status

Chapter 5: The importance of understanding an artisanal occupational milieu

5.1 Main conclusions in relation to the framework

5.2 Considering the conceptual contributions of the research

5.3 Artisan identity and status in the future

References

Appendix A: Interview Schedules

Appendix B: Registered and completed learnerships and apprenticeships, by race (2005 � 2012)

Appendix C: Registered and completed learnerships and apprenticeships by age (2005 � 2012)

Appendix D: Registered and completed learnerships and apprenticeships by gender (2005�2012)

Appendix E: Registered and completed learnerships and apprenticeships by employment status at registration, 2005 – 2012