Contextual factors and the experience of unemployment: A review of qualitative studies

Toit, Melinda Du; Witte, Hans De; Rothmann, Sebastiaan; Broeck, Anja Van den

doi:10.4102/sajems.v21i1.2083

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These findings lend credence to those highlighted in the cross-tabulation analysis which points to the scaring effects of longer durations of unemployment amongst the cohort. Whilst it reduces the potential human capital levels for the individuals, du Toit et al (2018) assert that the occurrence likewise contributes to social exclusion and the lack of financial independence that brings with it various psychological implications.…”

Section: Binary Logistic Regression Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Drivers of Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Micro-Level Evidence From South Africa

Jongh¹,

Johannes²

2019

Proceedings of the 52nd International Academic Conference, Barcelona

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Significantly high youth unemployment rates have become a prominent economic and social feature around the globe. The situation from a South African perspective has reached critical stages with an ominously high and increasing number of unemployed youth contributing to excessive poverty and inequality levels. Whilst concerns surrounding their inability to access decent employment opportunities have become prominent, the longevity of the cohort's failure to secure work has undoubtedly become the leading trepidation for the country's economic development objectives. Academic discourse surrounding the issue has continuously emphasised the potential scarring effects for young people, reiterating the loss of valuable future human capital levels as well as the risk of social exclusion. Despite these concerns, evidence, especially from developing regions, as to what drives long-term unemployment among the cohort still remain novel, necessitating analyses on both the demographic and work-related factors contributing to the situation. As such, the primary objective of the study was to identify the main microeconomic drivers of long-term youth unemployment in South Africa. A quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design were employed by using secondary data obtained from Statistics South Africa's 2019 Quarterly Labour Force Survey. The sample comprised a total of 4544 unemployed job seekers. The statistical analysis included the use of descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations and the use of a binary logistic regression. The study's findings revealed the long-term nature surrounding cohort's unemployment to be affected by an array of factors. Amongst the more prominent of these included a lack of experience, skill mismatches and an underlining preference amongst the cohort for highly job secure work opportunities. In addition to this, various inter-regional disparities, high job search costs and low social capital levels all seemed to increase the likelihood of being unemployed for longer than 12 months. Henceforth, addressing this situation necessitates a multi-pronged approach. This requires the creation of a sustainable and inclusive economic growth path that stimulates the demand for a variety of skills in various sectors. Moreover, government at all levels should exude a strong political will to enhance the current education system and create an enabling environment in which much needed public-private sector partnership formation can take place. The latter should specifically seek to provide quality work-integrated learning programmes that promote the development of both soft and technical skills, smoothing the successful transition of the cohort to the labour market.

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Section: Binary Logistic Regression Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Drivers of Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Micro-Level Evidence From South Africa

Jongh¹,

Johannes²

2019

Proceedings of the 52nd International Academic Conference, Barcelona

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“…At the same time unemployment has become and remains one of the major important economic issues that has found political and socio-economic prominence in South Africa since 1994 (Du Toit et al., 2018). Due to the apartheid education system of the past, many black South Africans who did not receive equal education were unemployed and could not find jobs in the formal market (Jansen, 2002) in order to sustain their families, even after migrating to the cities to seek employment.…”

Section: The South African Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value chain and activities of polyethylene terephthalate plastics in the South African waste economy

Hoffman

Schenck

2020

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit

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Introduction Value chains in their entirety, within the South African context, have not been the focus of much research thus far. A plethora of research has been done on the various actors within the value chain, but the rest of the value chain has not been identified and depicted. Failing to understand and describe the entire value chain of polyethylene terephthalate plastics has led to many unanswered questions and misunderstood impacts on the plastics waste economy. Purpose The purpose of the study was to document and depict the value chain and its activities within the polyethylene terephthalate waste economy in South Africa, which, according to the available literature, has not been done before. The documentation of the value chain and its activities will assist in identifying the possibilities of job creation within the waste economy, which could impact the diversion of waste from the landfill. Method A qualitative research approach with an exploratory research design was followed, and the data collection was done by means of a workshop. The participants in the workshop included captains of industry, entrepreneurs, academics, government, environmental groups and environmental non-governmental organizations. The workshop was recorded audio-visually, and concepts and discussions were documented for this purpose. All information was transcribed and documented in a final document. Results The value chain and its activities were documented. Conclusion The information collected is a starting point for more research within the waste economy, as the process will be followed with other waste streams. Job creation gaps have been identified and further research has started creating a better understanding of the value chain, which will influence policy.

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“…This is evident by the growth in total employment, which grew by 2 million new jobs between 1995 and 2003, was much less than the growth in the labour force, which grew by 6.3 million new entries to the labour market over the same time period. In a more recent study, du Toit, De Witte, Rothman and Van den Broeck (2018) attribute the high rate of unemployment in South Africa to socio-political issues such as lack of tertiary education, lack of proper skills training, heavy regulations that affect foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows as well as slow economic growth. Moreover, Patel and Choga (2018), note that unemployment may be caused by fiscal variables such as government expenditure or by financial variables such as the Central Bank's repurchase (repo) rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

South African Unemployment in the Post-Financial Crisis Era: What are the Determinants?

Mbekeni

Phiri

2020

Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia

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Research background: High unemployment rates are one of the greatest economic challenges facing the post-apartheid South African government over the past two decades and this problem has become more worrisome in the post-global financial crisis period. Purpose: Our study examines the determinants of unemployment for the South African economy in the post-crisis period over a quarterly frequency period of 2009:Q1 to 2018:Q4. The determinants are examined for four classes of unemployment rates (total, male, female and youth) and we further partition possible unemployment determinants into fiscal, monetary and macroeconomic variables. Research methodology: We employ the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) models. Results: We find income tax, repo rates, economic growth, trade, investment, household debt and savings to be significant determinants of unemployment in the post-crisis South African economy and yet we note discrepancies of the significance of these determinants amongst different unemployment categories. Novelty: No study has examined the determinants of unemployment in South Africa in the post-financial crisis era.

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Contextual factors and the experience of unemployment: A review of qualitative studies

Cited by 13 publications

References 23 publications

Understanding the Drivers of Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Micro-Level Evidence From South Africa

Understanding the Drivers of Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Micro-Level Evidence From South Africa

The value chain and activities of polyethylene terephthalate plastics in the South African waste economy

South African Unemployment in the Post-Financial Crisis Era: What are the Determinants?

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