Urban Youth Unemployment in South Africa: Socio-Economic and Political Problems

Abstract

This article explores the socio-economic and political problems relating to urban youth unemployment (UYU) in South Africa. The high UYU has become a big challenge and a key issue of debate in contemporary South Africa. With the increasing number of unemployed university graduates, youth unemployment calls for urgent attention. The researcher used a qualitative research methodology for the study, and conducted semi-structured interviews to collect data. Primary data collection was carried out in an online environment using the SurveyMonkey software program. In addition, empirical evidence was gathered from secondary sources. The findings show that UYU is increasing and has become a crisis. Currently, the rate of unemployment is 26.7 per cent, but youth unemployment is around 52 per cent. UYU in South Africa is a “ticking bomb” and is likely to explode in the face of South Africa’s leadership if the problem goes unattended. The article recommends that strategies, such as revamping South Africa’s educational system, creating jobs, developing the skills of the youth, and facilitating youth entrepreneurship, could be used to stem the problem of UYU.

The Dynamics of Youth Employment and Empowerment in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa: A Scoping Review

“…A South African's likelihood of being trapped in poverty is primarily determined by gender, race, and location [5,9,10]. Similarly, evidence emphasises the quality of education, socioeconomic background, policy design and implementation, the structure of the labour market, and lack of youth inclusivity as the main areas where challenges still exist [8,9,[11][12][13]. Consequently, the combination of these factors produces a young workforce that is ill-prepared to compete in the economy, reinforcing spatial and gender inequalities, poverty, and unemployment [6,12].…”

“…Identifying and addressing the main drivers of poverty, inequality, and unemployment amongst the youth is essential for supporting them to reach their potential and contribute to economic growth and sustainable development [16]. A holistic approach to youth employment and empowerment is required to address the challenges affecting youth participation in the labour market [13]. Agricultural transformation in lower-and middle-income countries is essential in supporting emerging economies, eliminating poverty and hunger [17].…”

A qualitative study exploring the experiences of unemployed youth in Chatsworth, South Africa.

“…In 2018, 3.3 million youth living in South Africa were not in employment, training, or education. The youth makes up 71 percent of individuals discouraged from continuing their job search (Mago, 2018). Altman et al (2014) found that 56 percent of youth lived in a household where no adult was in formal employment, and one-third (36 percent) of them lived in a household with no working adult.…”

“…More than 2,000 youth marched through Johannesburg to demand employment in October 2012, led by Julias Malema. The youth was met by former president Jacob Zuma who promised to establish 5 million jobs (Mago, 2018). Rivombo and Motseke (2021) state that the government should protect citizens against unemployment by reforming the unemployment insurance systems, implementing trade policies that promote quality employment, and ensuring job security.…”