The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey SA for quarter 4 of 2024 confirms that youth unemployment remains a crisis, with young South Africans continuing to have the highest unemployment rates in the country hindering equality and economic growth.
According to Stats SA, nearly 6 in 10 young people between the ages of 15 and 24, and nearly 4 in 10 young people between the ages of 25 and 34 years old are unemployed. ‘The latest QLFS confirms that the government’s strategy to tackle youth unemployment is not working; young people, and in the specific young females, are the most vulnerable in the economy’ says Clotilde Angelucci, Acting Project Lead at Advocacy Campaign Youth Capital.
The trend of the last 10 years is not positive overall. Stats SA confirms that across all ages, the number of unemployed people in South Africa has nearly doubled – with an increase in the proportion of those in long-term unemployment. The rate of young people between the ages of 15-34 not in education, employment or training has also increased. ‘We know that the longer young people are out of opportunities, the harder it is to find employment as they are deemed as risky hires’ adds Angelucci. Work opportunities play a critical role in bridging this gap, but the 2024 budget plummeted the funds for public employment programmes and the Basic Education Employment Initiative was cancelled. Adequate and timely funding for public employment programmes to ensure young people can access meaningful and well-designed work opportunities’ adds Angelucci.
The graduate employment rate shows a positive correlation between education attainment and economic opportunities. ‘As we comment on these stats, students across the countries are fighting for education access due to NSFAS inefficiencies and deep budget cuts to the higher education budget. But research shows that further education is a way out of income inequality.
The State of the Nation Address acknowledged the importance of economic recovery and inclusive growth, yet it failed to recognise the role that social investment plays in achieving that. ‘Unemployment is a structural issue, driven by systemic challenges that young people face from the moment they start school. Continuing to cut spending at this time would be highly detrimental; recently, we have seen that periods of economic growth have been largely jobless. So we can’t pursue economic growth and hope that jobs will come. Social welfare should guide our spending, and not debt consolidation’ adds Angelucci.
South Africa has one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally, while 30 million people live below the upper-bound poverty line; cost of living has overridden minimum wage. “Young South Africans urgently need clarity and commitment from the government. Youth Capital hopes to hear firm and long-term financial commitments to public employment programmes, ensuring they are not only sustained but expanded; only with adequate funding we can develop much-needed exit pathways” adds Angelucci.
Youth Capital’s hopes for the National Budget include:
• Fund public employment programmes in the medium to long term to ensure that young participants can gain meaningful work experience
• The Basic education employment initiative must be brought back in schools across the country
• Ensure that higher education is funded to provide young people with the skills the economy needs.
“We can’t keep on doing the same thing and expect a different result. Youth unemployment is not just a challenge for young people; it’s a crisis that affects the entire country. The National Budget is the most important tool to address it – as such, it must deliver the financial commitments needed to support young South Africans in building their futures,” concludes Angelucci.
For media inquiries, contact:
Clotilde Angelucci – Acting Project Lead, Youth Capital
Email: clotilde@youthcapital.co.za
Phone: 082 681 5927
