Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2001. / My decision to research the youth unemployment is the high rate of unemployment that is increasing among black youths in South Africa. It has been seen that the problem of unemployment emerged long time ago. This is an important study where I have reviewed many factors responsible for high rate of unemployment. The purpose of this study was to find out the possible ways which can be applied to reduce this high rate of unemployment among black youths in KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. In this study, two methods of data gathering were used. The primary source of data which consists of unemployed youths, employers, employees, and workers of the ministry of labour whom I interviewed with the aid of questionnaires and oral interview; and the secondary source of data which consists of data from ministry of labour, and library materials. The following findings emerged from this study: • Individuals who have a low standard of education are likely to be more unemployed. • Lack of government training schemes is responsible for the high rate of unemployment. • Nature and extent of the labour market is responsible for the high rate of unemployment. • Apartheid policy is responsible for high rate of unemployment. • The use of advanced technology like computer in all work environment in recent time is likely to contribute to the high rate of unemployment among the black rural youth. Since the issue of unemployment is a progressing problem, it is recommended that efforts must be made to reduce this high rate of unemployment. The government need to implement changes that will reduce this critical problem e.g. South Africa need to develop more training schemes as it is done in our neighbouring countries. The study does not claim to offer definitive answers about rate of unemployment, but it does seek to bring up possible ways or methods that can be applied in South Africa.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2001 / Refer to document

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2006 / The main purpose of the study was to explore the causes and effects of unemployment and the impact this has on development. The study was significant as it was assisting in identifying the unemployed in Tshiheni village. Furthermore the study highlighted various factors that conspires development at the village i.e. the causes of unemployment. The study also revealed the psychological, health and socio-economic challenges faced by the unemployed at the village. It further communicated possible strategies in which the un-employed can make a living. The study is qualitative in nature and a thirty percent systematic random sampling was drawn from the population. An interview schedule was used to collect data from the seventy respondents and it is included here as appendix A. The findings of the research were that the majority of the unemployed were aged between twenty-one and thirty years, females being the most vulnerable. Unemployment was mainly caused by non-availability of jobs, followed by retrenchments and then lack of skills. Majority of respondents reported viewing themselves negatively. Half of the respondents believe that abusing drugs would help them deal with the situation. Unemployment has a negative effect on social relationships. Majority of the unemployed are not self-employed, but rely on families and child grants for support.

This dissertation provides an empirical analysis of the correlates of long-term unemployment in South Africa using national survey data from 2001 and 2007. Within the South African context, very little research relating to the length of unemployment spells has been conducted. The negative implications of long-term unemployment necessitate a clearer understanding of the factors that affect this phenomenon. Of particular interest to this study is the impact of human capital variables, measured by education and previous work experience, on the length of unemployment spells. The results indicate that in 2001 a degree or diploma was the only level of education that reduced the probability of long-term unemployment amongst the strictly unemployed. By 2007, no level of the education had an effect on the probability of long-term unemployment. These results raise serious questions about the ability of formal South African education qualifications to act as a proxy for human capital and thus the productive capacity of individuals. In contrast, having previous work experience significantly reduced the probability of long-term unemployment amongst the strictly unemployed in both 2001 and 2007. These results suggest that relative to education, previous work experience is a more accurate and thus acceptable measure of an individual’s productive potential amongst prospective employers. Finally, given the variety of negative effects associated with long-term unemployment such as crime, poverty as well as human capital depreciation, it is important that steps are taken to reduce the phenomenon. A short discussion is provided on the implementation of a wage subsidy which could be targeted towards the unemployed most prone to long-term unemployment; this would help these individuals to secure employment and thus gain valuable work experience. It is this work experience which will play a critical role in determining the future employment prospects of individuals within the South African economy. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

LL.D.

M.Sc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / The need for Official Statistics to assist in the planning and monitoring of development projects is becoming more intense, as the country shifts toward better service delivery by local government. It is evident that the demand for statistics at small area level (municipal rather than provincial) is high. However, the statistics with respect to employment status at municipal level is limited by the poor estimation of unemployment in 2001 Census and by changes in boundaries in local government areas. Estimates are judged to be reliable only at provincial level (Stats SA, 2003) The aim of this study is to investigate possible methods to resolve the problem of the misclassification of employment status in Census 2001 by readjusting the data with respect to the classification of people as employed, unemployed or economically inactive, to that of Labour Force Survey of September 2001. This report gives an overview of the different methods of small area estimation proposed in the literature, and investigates the use of these methods to provide better estimates of employment status at a small area (municipal) level. The application of the small area estimation methods to employment status shows that the choice of the method used is dependent on the available data as well as the specification of the required domain of estimation. This study uses a two-stage small area model to give estimates of unemployment at different small areas of estimation across the geographical hierarchy (i.e. District Council and Municipality). Even though plausible estimates of the unemployment rate were calculated for each local municipality, the study points out some limitations, one of which is the poor statistical representation (very few people) living in some specific municipalities (e.g. District Management Areas used for national parks). Another issue is the poor classification of employment status in rural areas due to poor data with respect to economic activities, mostly with respect to family businesses, and the non-availability of additional auxiliary data at municipal level, for the validation of the results. The inability to incorporate the time difference factors in the small area estimation model is also a problem. In spite those limitations, the small area estimation of unemployment in South Africa gives the reference estimates of unemployment at municipality level for targeted policy intervention when looking at reducing the gap between those who have jobs and those who do not. Hence, the outcome of the small area estimation investigation should assist policy makers in their decision-making. In addition, the methodological approach used in this report constitutes a technical contribution to the knowledge of using Small Area Estimation techniques for South African Employment statistics.

The apartheid Johannesburg was built on spatial divisions, uneven development was undertaken literally to ensure that whites and blacks were to live apart from each other. In the post-apartheid Johannesburg, uneven development persists, though no longer solely based on racial differences. These spatial divisions, as they did under apartheid, reinforce existing structures of the privileged, which mutually reinforce the system of spatial, economic and social exclusion, particularly for the unemployed poor. In the light of the continuation of this urban form, the study aimed to show that people are not unemployed only because there are no jobs generally available to people lacking marketable skills, as primarily argued by most researchers; but also because there is a strong correlation between unemployment and the spatial distribution of employment opportunities within the Johannesburg city. The study also aimed to test the applicability of various theories imported from USA and Europe, which are generally used to explain urban problems in South Africa, through identification of possible areas of contention. In attempt to explain the continuation of the apartheid urban form by the current government policy, the study adopted qualitative data collection techniques focusing on literature studies, documentary, personal observation and the design of a theoretical framework Based on the theoretical framework, the study came to the conclusion that the preoccupation with compact city development to eradicate the effects of uneven development and urban unemployment in Johannesburg is misdirected. It has revealed the need for the government to explore how best to improve the circumstances of low-income households in condition of urban sprawl. The outcome of the study in relation to uneven development is that, although Johannesburg exhibits apartheid patterns of racial oppression and exploitation, in post-apartheid South Africa, Johannesburg is characterized by structural inequality driven by two income gaps: between an increasingly multiracial middle class and the rest; and between the African urban working class and the African unemployed and marginalized poor. In this context, uneven development in Johannesburg can no longer be explained solely by race. High levels of intra-racial inequality, especially among the African population, mean that there are other social forces at work. The study also found that there has been the steady relocation of economic activities to the southern part of Johannesburg, particularly in Soweto. And that the vast majority of new households in Johannesburg are settling in and on the edges of existing townships, most often on the outer edges, mainly because of the informal housing and government's subsidised housing. Nonetheless, these developments continue to perpetuate the apartheid legacy of uneven development. According to the conclusion of the study there is evidence to suggest that employment accessibility within different population groups is largely caused by spatial factors, such as employment decentralisation and residential segregation. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

M.A. (Economics) / Unemployment is a familiar affliction of our age, but its nature, causes and cures remain matters of dispute. As with many familiar things, closer examination leads to deepening mystery. Its pathology is complex, with social as well as economic ramifications" (Routh, 1986: 1). In the world of today which is characterised by globalization, the unemployment problem has become a worldwide problem. It is endemic in both developed and developing countries. But for developing countries, this problem brings more challenges(like increased poverty) and complications (like political and social instability). South Africa is certainly no exception. In South Africa, this problem is succinctly expressed by Barker (1992: 71): "Unemployment is probably the most severe problem South African society is experiencing and it is conceivably the root cause of many other problems, such as high crime rates, violence, abject poverty.... Prominent leaders in and outside government have also stated that no government will be able to govern South Africa ...if this problem is not addressed effectively". According to Hall (1997: 396), one of the overlooked aspects of the unemployment crisis in South Africa is the spatial distribution of unemployment within cities. Apartheid urban planning concentrated the black population in peripheral residential areas, where the majority of the unemployed population is found. In Gauteng, for example, unemployment rates (using the 1991 census) vary between zero percent in former white suburbs and above thirty percent mainly in the former black townships. In addition to the apartheid urban landscape the recent trend of suburbanisation of economic activity, the decline in central business districts and the continued lack of development in former black residential areas may intensify the problem of unemployment. The long-term effects of these processes are far reaching, that is, they may result in profound labour market segmentation which may, in turn, negatively impact on urban development strategies aimed at reintegrating South Africa's cities and addressing the problems of poverty, unemployment, urbanisation and housing. With the establishment of democracy in 1994, many South African unemployed people became hopeful that there was going to be employment for everyone. This was further reinforced by the adoption of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), and the promises made by the developed Western countries to assist South Africa in its development endeavours. In 1996, South Africa opted for a neo-liberal approach (which advocates for less government involvement in the economic activity) to economic development by adopting the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy - which is a supply-side policy. The GEAR strategy calls for a minimalist state, restructuring of the economy like the elimination of export subsidies and the reduction of import tariffs to improve the competitiveness of South African industries in the global arena. In fact, to the contrary, at this stage, GEAR has not helped to stop the increasing tide of unemployment and retrenchments as industries are concerned with cutting costs(of which, labour costs are often the highest) to meet global competition. The cliche "lean is mean" has become crucial in business decisions. The implication of this is that more people have been put out of work. The unemployment level in South Africa has reached endemic proportions. The problem is getting more complicated by the prospects of the closure of marginal gold mines due to the possibility of a weaker gold price and increasing costs.

The apartheid Johannesburg was built on spatial divisions, uneven development was undertaken literally to ensure that whites and blacks were to live apart from each other. In the post-apartheid Johannesburg, uneven development persists, though no longer solely based on racial differences. These spatial divisions, as they did under apartheid, reinforce existing structures of the privileged, which mutually reinforce the system of spatial, economic and social exclusion, particularly for the unemployed poor. In the light of the continuation of this urban form, the study aimed to show that people are not unemployed only because there are no jobs generally available to people lacking marketable skills, as primarily argued by most researchers; but also because there is a strong correlation between unemployment and the spatial distribution of employment opportunities within the Johannesburg city. The study also aimed to test the applicability of various theories imported from USA and Europe, which are generally used to explain urban problems in South Africa, through identification of possible areas of contention. In attempt to explain the continuation of the apartheid urban form by the current government policy, the study adopted qualitative data collection techniques focusing on literature studies, documentary, personal observation and the design of a theoretical framework Based on the theoretical framework, the study came to the conclusion that the preoccupation with compact city development to eradicate the effects of uneven development and urban unemployment in Johannesburg is misdirected. It has revealed the need for the government to explore how best to improve the circumstances of low-income households in condition of urban sprawl. The outcome of the study in relation to uneven development is that, although Johannesburg exhibits apartheid patterns of racial oppression and exploitation, in post-apartheid South Africa, Johannesburg is characterized by structural inequality driven by two income gaps: between an increasingly multiracial middle class and the rest; and between the African urban working class and the African unemployed and marginalized poor. In this context, uneven development in Johannesburg can no longer be explained solely by race. High levels of intra-racial inequality, especially among the African population, mean that there are other social forces at work. The study also found that there has been the steady relocation of economic activities to the southern part of Johannesburg, particularly in Soweto. And that the vast majority of new households in Johannesburg are settling in and on the edges of existing townships, most often on the outer edges, mainly because of the informal housing and government's subsidised housing. Nonetheless, these developments continue to perpetuate the apartheid legacy of uneven development. According to the conclusion of the study there is evidence to suggest that employment accessibility within different population groups is largely caused by spatial factors, such as employment decentralisation and residential segregation. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

Unemploynent is a problem that confronts many western countries. The aim of this dissertation is to understand, on the basis of a phenomenological investigation, what it means to be an unemployed, white, South African citizen. These meanings are then seen and discussed against the background of the problems associated with the ideological structure within the country. How the latter relates to white employment and psychological life is also explored. The results demonstrate the negative impact unemploynent has upon the psychological functioning of the individual. The results further show the despair such individuals face, having been 'denied' an accepted role within society.