Unions worried over high youth unemployment rate

Workers’ unions have voiced unhappiness over high youth unemployment levels following the release of a report by Statics South Africa (StatsSA).

Tshwane unemployment rate stood at 36,7 % making it the highest in the province, according to the report.

In a statement, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) raised its concerns over the high unemployment rate, particularly the youth.

“It is doom and gloom for the youth. StatsSA shows that there are ‘about 10,2 million young people aged 15-24 years in quarter 1 of 2021, of which 32,4% were not in employment, education or training (NEET).’

“Further, it shows that the NEET rate for females is higher than that of their male counterparts in both years,” the statement read.

“This spells doom for the future of young people in this country, and thus it comes as no surprise that levels of crime and violence are increasing.”

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the unemployment rate was shocking.

“Young people suffer the brunt of unemployment, most work in unfavourable conditions. We have noticed exploitation in places towards young people, employers hide behind internships and youth wage subsidies as a way to exploit young people.”

Hlubi-Majola said to resolve the issue it would take not only the government but different stakeholders and private sectors to combating the rising unemployment rate.

“The private sector alone is not a solution because there are too many challenges we face in this country like inequality and poverty,” she said.

On a contrary note, DA employment and labour shadow minister Dr Michael Lardo said the focus should be put more on creating jobs in the private sector.

“Only the private sector can create jobs at large scale and rapidly absorb predominantly low-skilled workers into the economy. This means we need to unleash the private sector through legislative and policy reforms to the labour market.”

According to the report released on Tuesday, Gauteng’s unemployment stood at 34,4% for the first quarter of the year, making it the third-highest in the country.

Nationally, the rate of unemployment have also increased due to the new matriculants and tertiary graduates joining the workforce, StatsSA found.

The youth unemployment rate stands at 63,3% for the age group 15-24 years old and 41,3% for the age group 25-34.

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