Nicola Mauson | May 15, 2025
Approximately 10 million South Africans – Younger generations between 15 and 24 years old – It has had disastrous consequences for South Africa's economic growth, and “faces the highest barrier to entry into the workforce.
“For many young South Africans, landing work is more than just a milestone, and it is a critical step towards economic independence and inclusion. But for millions, this first step remains out of reach,” the South African Bureau of Statistics said. Data printing was released this week.
Veteran business commentator Adrian Scofield told IOL “The growth of the proportion of unemployed youth is a direct obstacle to the growth of the country's economy.” He added that this type of situation leads to more crime, which discourages investment.
A recent study by the South African Bureau of Statistics further breaks down the quarterly workforce survey released on Tuesday, showing that half of 15-24 people were unemployed in 2015. Ten years later, this number jumped to 62.4%.
South Africans can start working legally at age 15.
For all young people aged 25 to 34, the proportion of those in their qualifying years increased from 31.4% to 40.4%, the agency said. In 2015, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 34 was 36.9%. Ten years later, it jumped to 9.2% points. This was a “increase highlighting the worsening outlook of millions.”
Schofield said,The lack of attention to technology, engineering and mathematics skills in the education pipeline will condemn most enrollees for skilled or service occupations (with low income) if employment can be found. ”
When young people are working, these are generally in areas such as retail, wholesale, hospitality and more, making up a quarter of employment, the South African Bureau of Statistics said. “These figures draw a clear picture. Many young workers are concentrated in low-skilled or service-based occupations.”
Of the unemployed, almost 60% have no prior work experience, South Africa statistics say. “That means that nearly six out of ten unemployed people are still waiting for their first opportunity to enter the job market. Without experience, young people are struggling to get hired.
“This cycle of exclusion continues to promote long-term unemployment and food stall skill development at key stages of life,” he added.
Unemployment also reflects entrenched gender inequality, with women continuing to face greater barriers to employment, particularly among young people. Approximately 37.5% of women between the ages of 15 and 24 belong to category statistics where South Africa is not employment, education or training.
This disparity is 45.1% overall for the 15-34-year-old group. Women are 48.1% compared to 42.2% of men. This highlights the “persistent gender gap in access to work and skill development,” the South African Bureau of Statistics said.
The agency said: “The challenges facing young people in South Africa in the employment sector are not new, but they are often negatively prevalent. Youth unemployment has remained sustained high over the past decade,” the South African Bureau of Statistics said.
By comparison, the overall unemployment rate was 32.9%, with 31.9% for the last three months of 2024. Including more accurate measures of disappointing job seekers, employment status, the rates rose from 41.9% to 43.1% in the same quarterly analysis, the South African Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.
The light-form of young people is more disastrous in the northwest and in the Eastern Cape, where it deepens economic exclusion. In the first quarter of 2025, the Northwest recorded a youth unemployment rate of 58.8%.
“In the Eastern Cape, photography is equally serious. The unemployment rate is 54.3%, with 39.8% of the youth workforce participation rate, with fewer than four in 10 people being employed or are looking for a job.
“Disclaimer – the views and opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and are not necessarily those of the Bee Room.”
