The majority of young South African job seekers are spending up to R1 000 a month looking for employment and most of the time they are not successful.
This was revealed in a research report by the youth-led advocacy campaign Youth Capital. An amount of R500 is spent on data and up to R500 on transport. There are also photocopy and printing fees which can vary around R250.
The survey had 2 200 respondents, most of whom were looking for work at the time it was conducted. Most of the respondents said they were assisted financially by family members and sometimes friends. Forty-four percent said they spent over a year looking for employment – 33% less than six months and 23% more than six months.
The pandemic which started over two years ago led to lockdowns and the increased use of online platforms for job seeking. Hand-delivered applications are still common in many places, as are face-to-face interviews despite the technology available to many.
Luvuyo Memani from Strand, which is 45km from the Cape Town CBD, said a taxi from his place to the CBD cost R35.
“That is only a single trip, then another R35 for me to return home, excluding food.
“I have lost count of how many times I have had to go for interviews only to not get the job after being shortlisted.”
When trains were still available, R35 was enough for Memani to book a return trip as he would walk to the station.
“Unlike Khayelitsha and other places, we do not have the luxury of services like MyCiTi and Golden Arrow buses. Minibus taxis are our only option.”
He said sometimes he is faced with choosing between buying food and trying his luck on the job market. “Family members are not always supportive, and I understand that times are tough for everyone.”
The article, written by Velani Ludidi, appeared on Weekend Argus on Saturday 15 May 2022.