2024-09-02 22:00:12
South Africa is unable to find an answer to its massive unemployment crisis. The country has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and according to the latest data, the jobless rate rose further between April and June this year.
From our correspondent in Johannesburg:
Today, 33.5% of the working population is unemployed. If we adopt a broader definition that includes those who have given up all their studies, the percentage rises even higher to 42.6%. Nikelwa, 27, completed his chef training six months ago. Since then, he has struggled to find a job but has found nothing. When I applied for the job I was told they needed someone with experience so no chance “, she testified. She was worried about not being able to find a job quickly: I have a son and this is all very frustrating because he is growing up and I don’t know how he is going to go to school. » Out of spite, she now wants to try something else, training in audio-visual production in Soweto.
Unemployment rate in South Africa Just experienced the third growth This is the highest level in two years. There are several factors that explain this.” We know that education remains a factor: the lower the level of education, the greater the risk of unemployment. Young people are also more affected because they have less experience in the labor market. Ariane De Lannoy of the Southern African Labour and Development Research Centre (Saldru) at the University of Cape Town explains. But of course, at the macroeconomic level, we are mainly facing a situation where economic growth is not sufficient to encourage job creation, and even when there is growth, it is not inclusive. »
Once a month, looking for advice for young graduates from 8 billion neighbors.
Social classes are affected to varying degrees
IMF predicts economic growth to be below 1% in 2024. In addition, the country’s high levels of inequality also have an impact on finding a job. Sharmi Surianarain, who works at Harambee, an organization that helps young people with their studies, can attest to this. This involves time and money, such as paying for mobile data on your phone. There is also geographic exclusion, as many young people live far from where they work. ”, she was able to observe. There are also gender-based barriers when it comes to finding the time and money to find a job. “ Even if they do get something, it’s often a temporary contract and don’t forget the gender pay gap exists “, she continued.
The result: all sectors of society are more vulnerable to unemployment.” In our research with young people not in education, employment or training, we observed that they were more likely to be in this situation if they were black, female, and if they lived in a home with children under seven. living below the poverty line », emphasizes researcher Ariane De Lannoy.
The ANC reacted to the release of the figures by declaring that it was not concerned about quarterly fluctuations but was looking at ” Longer period ».
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