Unemployment is rising in South Africa, and this is having a negative impact on the economy. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the reasons this is happening, and what we can do to mitigate the problem.
The cause of high rates of unemployment in South Africa
One of the reasons unemployment is increasing in South Africa is because of the country’s high levels of inequality. According to the World Bank, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world, with the top 10% of earners taking home over 70% of the country’s income. This level of inequality makes it difficult for those at the bottom of the economic ladder to get ahead, and means that there are fewer opportunities for them to find work.
Another reason unemployment is on the rise in South Africa is because of the poor state of the country’s education system. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), South Africa’s education system is the worst in the world. This means that many young people are not getting the skills and knowledge they need to find employment. The high levels of unemployment in South Africa are having several negative consequences for the economy.
One of the most serious problems is that it is leading to an increase in crime. According to the South African Police Service, there was a 3.4% increase in serious crime in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period the previous year. This is in part because unemployed people are more likely to turn to crime in order to survive and provide for their basic needs.
