UNEMPLOYMENT remains one of South Africa’s most pressing economic and social challenges. Over the past two decades it has also proved to be one of the country’s most intractable policy challenges.
A plethora of policies and interventions have failed to make a difference.
The initial post-apartheid period saw significant growth in employment. But since 2009 employment growth has slowed and both the unemployment level and rate have increased substantially.
According to the recently released 2021 second quarter Quarterly Labour Force Survey data, the unemployment level went up to 7.83 million and the unemployment rate rose to 34.4%. This was the highest since the introduction of the survey in 2008.
High unemployment may manifest in various social pathologies such as crime, poor health and, in the extreme, political instability. The short-run effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has starkly worsened the problem.
Two policy responses to unemployment have often been emphasised: upgrading
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