Tag: unemployment

When young Americans grow up, rarely do you hear them being excited about going to study in Europe when they leave school. Why would they be? They have world-class universities and immense opportunities at home. It is not uncommon, however, to speak to young South Africans who are keen to leave this country either for extended periods or indefinitely.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is here. It is evident in the way banks have started offering their digital services and disrupting the modus operandi of traditional banks; it is evident in schools, where books are being replaced with tablets and it will roll-out in almost every sector in the country.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is a crime against the poor of this country as it absolutely forbids them from accepting any compensation below the floor set by government. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that some people who could be working are not employed because of the minimum wage.

With the elections now largely behind us, investors’ focus will shift to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ability and political will in addressing issues of concern, namely: the composition of cabinet to be announced on the 28th of May, transforming the economy with the promised policy reform and resolving the problem that Eskom poses to South Africa.

Stats SA recently announced South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased to 27.6%. The expanded rate increased to 38%, which translates to 9,994,000 unemployed people.

Abigail Makhubele Absa Business Banking and Dr Ivor Blumenthal ArkKonsult discuss how the establishment of informal businesses has been driven by necessity for economic survival.

During the first quarter of 2018, South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 2,2% according to Stats SA. This low growth trap followed a period of cautious optimism and highlights the need for creative thinking from all role players in the economy.

Reality can be avoided for only so long. The South African economy has slipped into its first technical recession since 2009. Cyril Ramaphosa’s confidence in growth for the economy has proven hollow. Without a change in the size and the amount of control the state has grasped over the lives of South Africans, without a change in policy from socialism to free markets, this recession was inevitable.

As unemployment in South Africa jumped to 27.2% for Q2 2018, the proverbial walls seem to be closing in on job seekers. The strain of this appears to be intensified among the youth who account for 63.5% of the total number of unemployed persons,irrespective of education level.

Given the current economic situation in the country characterised by low growth, more people are coming to appreciate the sound moral, philosophical, and economic underpinnings of a free market economy.