South Africans under 25 in serious trouble
South Africa faces a youth unemployment crisis of alarming proportions, with the latest statistics painting a grim picture of the country’s future workforce.
The unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 years has reached an unprecedented 60.2%, placing young South Africans among the most economically marginalised populations globally.
For those aged 25 to 34 years, the situation is slightly less dire but still deeply concerning, with 40.4% unemployed.
This crisis is compounded by the country’s overall unemployment rate of 32.1% at the end of Q3 2024, starkly higher than the global average of 5.1%.
The implications of such figures extend far beyond immediate economic hardships, with experts warning of long-term consequences for both individuals and the broader society.
“South Africa’s youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb,” said Miriam Altman, an economist and former commissioner at the National Planning Commission.
“A 60% youth unemployment rate indicates not just a failure of job creation but a systemic breakdown in the ability of the economy to absorb its youngest entrants into the labour market.”
Globally, South Africa’s youth unemployment figures are an outlier.
Even in countries with high overall unemployment, rates among young people rarely exceed 30% or 40%.
In comparison, South Africa’s rate more than doubles that of many emerging markets and significantly surpasses advanced economies.
This disparity underscores the depth of structural challenges in South Africa, including skills mismatches, sluggish economic growth, and a lack of targeted policies to address youth employment.
The Quarterly Labour Force Survey for July to September 2024 reveals the sheer scale of this problem.
Out of South Africa’s 21 million people under the age of 35—roughly half the working-age population—only six million are employed.
Moreover, geographical disparities exacerbate the crisis.
The Western Cape, for instance, consistently reports the lowest unemployment rates, currently below 30%, and stands as a stark contrast to provinces like the Eastern Cape, North West, and Free State, where unemployment rates hover between 36% and 37%.
These regional disparities highlight how local economic conditions and governance play a role in shaping employment outcomes.
However, unemployment statistics only tell part of the story.
A significant portion of South Africa’s working-age population—40%—is classified as not economically active, including students, homemakers, and discouraged job seekers.
Among these, discouraged work seekers are particularly notable, as they reflect individuals who have given up searching for work due to repeated failures.
This group accounts for approximately 20% of the not economically active population.
Provinces such as Limpopo and Mpumalanga have the highest proportion of discouraged work seekers at around 30%, while the Western Cape has the smallest share at 10%.
The inclusion of discouraged work seekers in calculating the expanded unemployment rate reveals an even bleaker reality: 41.9% of the labour force, when expanded to include those who have stopped seeking jobs, is unemployed.
This figure illustrates the pervasive hopelessness surrounding job prospects in many parts of the country.
Youth unemployment is not just an economic issue but also a social one, with far-reaching consequences for crime, mental health, and societal stability.
According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), countries with persistently high youth unemployment rates risk creating a “lost generation,” where young people fail to gain the skills and experience needed for future opportunities.
In South Africa’s case, the high unemployment rate further entrenches inequality and perpetuates cycles of poverty.
Efforts to address the crisis have so far fallen short.
Government programs aimed at job creation, such as the Expanded Public Works Programme and youth-targeted initiatives, like the Presidential Employment Stimulus, have been unable to counterbalance the growing number of unemployed youth.
Experts argue that more systemic reforms are required, including a stronger focus on improving the quality of education and vocational training to align with market demands, as well as fostering an entrepreneurial culture.
As the country continues to grapple with this daunting challenge, the stakes could not be higher.
South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is a critical barometer of its economic health and social cohesion.
Without urgent and effective interventions, the country risks further marginalising its youth and squandering the potential of the next generation.
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