Johanna Manyaapelo, Sibongile Pakisi
Abstract
Despite various policies aimed at addressing youth unemployment in South Africa, it continues to be a significant concern for many stakeholders in the country’s labour market, including academic researchers. This study investigates the socio-economic and individual demographic factors associated with youth unemployment in the North West Province of South Africa. Quantitative research methods, including an online survey, were employed to gather data from a selected group of 250 unemployed youths in the North West Province. Participants were males and females aged 19 to 34. The questionnaire was distributed through various online platforms, such as emails, WhatsApp, and blog posts on websites. The collected quantitative data were analysed using Pearson correlation analysis. The study reveals that several factors significantly influence youth unemployment in the North West Province, including a lack of work experience, insufficient training opportunities, a scarcity of suitable jobs, limited social support, skills mismatch, job unavailability, lack of education and training, and unfavourable economic policies. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between psychological distress and youth unemployment, suggesting that unemployed youths experiencing a lack of education and training, skills mismatch, and limited job opportunities often suffer from psychological distress. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, development practitioners, employers, and educators, emphasising the need for their engagement in creating policies aimed at improving youth employment. The authors call for a better alignment of educational systems with labour market needs and the promotion of inclusive economic policies to enhance job prospects for young people in South Africa.