South Africa – Youth unemployment running as high as 50%

South Africa may be the largest and most developed economy on the African continent, but the unemployment rate for younger people has been running as high as 50%, prompting a nationwide debate about schemes where companies get paid for taking on young workers.

The extent of youth joblessness, and its associated poverty, is acknowledged to be a major contributor to South Africa’s high crime rate. And in some urban centres it is fuelling drug-related gang culture.

‘Couldn’t get skills’

Chad Harding, from Cape Town, left school with good exam results and high hopes. But, like many young South Africans, he struggled to find a job.

“I was just stuck at home waiting, waiting for something to come up,” he said.

“I was frustrated, I had no money and even though I was giving in my CV to everyone, no-one called back.

“It’s very hard to find work when you are young. They want people with skills and experience, but I couldn’t afford to study to get more qualifications and, as I wasn’t working, I couldn’t get the skills.”…

via BBC News – Youth unemployment: The big question and South Africa.