Employment statistics do not reflect the reality of local youth
The recently released unemployment statistics do not seem to be the experience on the ground, according to the youth demographic in the Amajuba district.
The most recent unemployment figures released by Statistics SA have raised hope. The figures for quarter three (July to September 2023) show an increase in employment in the third quarter compared to the second, as the unemployment rate dropped to 31.9%. This means 16,7 million people are currently employed in SA.
Kwazulu-Natal had significant gains in employment and a 1.6% drop in unemployment, continuing the upward trend seen in the prior quarter.
According to the statistics, there are now 174,000 fewer young people without jobs—a 1.9% drop from 45.3% to 43.4%.
A lot of the youth however feel the statistics do not reflect what’s happening on the ground.
In discussions about the nation’s unemployment problem, the Advertiser has concentrated on the youth unemployment problem in the Amajuba District, where a lot of young people are caught in a cycle of rejection and disappointment.
“I’ve lost track of how many jobs I’ve applied for. There’s nothing more depressing than watching time pass while your life remains stagnant,” says Promise, a 30-year-old IT graduate.
Sphesihle Khweshube, chairperson of an organisation called The Unemployed Youth of Amajuba district (TUYAD), an NGO dealing with young people who are jobless, estimates that 60 per cent of the youth in Amajuba district are unemployed.
Recruitment expert, Mark Staples of a local employment agency ‘The Recruitment Guy’ shared his expertise, commenting that “although the job market can be challenging, the unemployed youth can improve their chances of finding suitable employment if they are armed with the right knowledge and strategies.”
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