By Crystal Huntley, Economist at Nedbank Group
During Women's Month, it's important to honour the spirit of the 1956 Women's March against oppressive laws and to continue their legacy by addressing today's pressing issues. Youth unemployment in South Africa, with a particular focus on the disproportionate challenges faced by our young women, deeply impacts our country’s potential.
In the second quarter of 2024, South Africa’s youth unemployment rate hit an alarming 46.6% among those aged 15 - 34, starkly higher than the national average of 33.5%. This rate is not just a number but a reflection of a deep-seated crisis that affects over half of our young population trying to enter the workforce. However, the plight intensifies for young women, whose unemployment rate soared to 49.4% in 2024, an increase from 46.1% just two decades earlier.
Young women in our workforce face a dual challenge: systemic gender biases coupled with the broader crisis of youth unemployment. Despite strides in gender equality, the labour market remains unfavourable to women, exhibiting large gender gaps in employment opportunities and conditions. Women’s participation is often limited by lower access to education and vocational training, societal norms about gender roles and the overwhelming burden of unpaid domestic responsibilities.
While education should theoretically bridge the gap to employment, the labour force participation rate for young women remains significantly lower than for men. This gap indicates that even with education, women find fewer opportunities and face greater obstacles in securing employment. In rural areas, where educational and job opportunities are even scarcer, these issues are magnified.