JOBJACK Warns Language Screening May Block Youth Jobs

In Short

JOBJACK says some entry-level job screening assessments may be filtering out young South Africans because they effectively require strong English.

What Happened

JOBJACK raised concerns about how companies screen entry-level candidates. Ashleigh Nel, JOBJACK’s head of research and development, said traditional screening assessments can impose English-language requirements.

Nel said this can disadvantage entry-level candidates.

The article also reported on the scale of demand for retail jobs moving through JOBJACK’s platform. JOBJACK received 13.5 million applications for 22,518 store-level vacancies between January and October 2026.

Why It Matters

Entry-level hiring often uses standardised screening, which can include written tests or assessments. If those assessments require a high level of English, they can exclude candidates even when the role itself does not need that level of language skill.

JOBJACK’s application figures point to heavy competition for a limited number of vacancies. In that kind of market, small barriers in the screening process can affect large numbers of applicants.

For employers, this raises a practical question, whether screening tools are measuring the skills needed for the job, or filtering on language proficiency by default. For job platforms and assessment providers, it also highlights the importance of aligning screening criteria with role requirements.