Unemployed builders, tilers, and plumbers seeking jobs on the side of the road in Johannesburg, South Africa. Guillem Sartorio / AFP via Getty Images.
Hannah J. Dawson – 19 Feb 2025
South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The official rate is 32%, rising to 42% when discouraged job seekers are included. Among young people aged 15 to 24, unemployment reaches a staggering 60%. While much attention has focused on youth exclusion from the labour market and their survival strategies, far less is said about their experiences in precarious jobs, or why some choose to leave low-wage employment…