Education, not growth, key to working youth

AS South Africa prepares to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto uprising, the prospects of teenagers today, while improved, are still clouded by challenges.

Official statistics show that one in two South Africans aged between 15 and 24 do not have a job, one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world.

When those up to the age of 34 are included — the range Stats SA defines as youth — that adds up to 3.7 million young people without work.

Official figures this week showed that the economy contracted by 1.2% in the first quarter, which explains why the number of employed people plunged by 355 000 in that period. That pushed the official unemployment rate up to 26.7% — one of the highest on record in any country — suggesting that little has been achieved in more than two decades to shake off the legacy of apartheid.

When the people who have given up looking for work are added, the expanded unemployment rate rises to 36.3%.

The slow pace of growth is being blamed for the lack of job creation, and in many ways this is correct. But the official unemployment rate did not change much when economic growth exceeded 5% for three years in a row, a decade ago. So the problem is structural, and the statistics show that a lack of education and skills is the main culprit.

Nearly half the youth labour force did not finish their secondary education and only 14% obtained university degrees or completed other forms of tertiary education.

The result is that three out of five young people who are not employed, studying or engaged in some sort of training did not complete their matric. In contrast, only 4% of those with a TOO LATE: Kefiloe Masiteng tertiary education are in that predicament.

It is easy to criticise the education system, but if young people stayed in school, their employment prospects would be much better, and they would be less likely to fall into the growing ranks of those marginalised in society, said Kefiloe Masiteng, the deputy director-general of population statistics at Stats SA.

One of the reasons for the high dropout rate among girls is pregnancy, but Masiteng said conditions at home often robbed many young people of a future. “They stop going to school to take care of siblings and the elderly — they assume the responsibilities of parenting while still children themselves.”

By the time the government or private sector intervened, it was too late, because they had been marginalised so long they didn’t last in training, she said.

Ian Steuart, a senior manager for jobs and growth at the Centre for Development and Enterprise, said that what was really important is helping pupils in the transition to the world of work and further education.

One such programme is the Harambee initiative, a privately funded youth employment accelerator that aims to connect employers looking for entry-level talent to young work-seekers with high potential — with or without good matric results.

Adcorp labour economist Loane Sharp said everything depended on a young person getting their first job — and what is required for that is an intermediary, whether it is a labour broker, volunteer organisation or some form of apprenticeship.

Unemployment rate did not change much when growth exceeded 5% for three years in a row