Growing numbers of unemployment rate in SA

Photo by Amazing Pictures 

A familiar narration among our participants is their sordid experiences, an indictment of the rigid labour market. These include, in some cases, requests for upfront payment to guarantee an interview.

Others cite challenges around resource constraints as limitations to full participation in this challenging labour market.

Then there is the internship opportunity, a masquerade where early career entrants to the labour market are often exploited in the name of getting work experience.

There is no one magic formula in seeking a solution to the toil and toll of our unemployment situation.

A starting point could be the necessary work to critique the current policies and role of created structures as a response to the unemployment challenge.

A typical admission by analysts appears to point to a rethink of policy direction, including the need for more government certainty regarding the unemployment challenge.

This clarion call covers not just national government but also provincial efforts on the ground.

Compounding the situation are the perceived rifts and often public factional contestations within the ANC, as the governing party.

These have often created more confusion to this earlier request for policy direction and certainty.

A second focal point would be to channel investment into the areas where the money is.

The prediction by some here is the need to pay attention to the township and informal economy.

An estimated 30% of economic activity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic will likely be concentrated in the township and informal economy.