MENTHER BUSINESS
Young, Gifted, Black and Potentially Unemployed The “Gig” economy is simply, a labour market characterised by freelance, flexible, on-demand work rather than the more traditional nine-to- five working model.
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or many young black females, the prospect of creating the career of your dreams is a reality lived out by few, despite what we may believe as we are so often exposed to, “on the gram”. According to the Quarterly Labor Force Index (QLFS), a measure of employment numbers published by Statistics South Africa – the country recorded its highest rate of unemployment by peaking at 32.6%. The results of the QLFS show that the number of employed persons remained almost unchanged at 15 million in the first of quarter 2021. The number of unemployed persons also remained almost unchanged at 7.2 million compared
to the fourth quarter of 2020 – an increase of 8,000. Reality creeps in once we take a look at the broader and expanded definition of unemployed in South Arica which includes those who are “discouraged job seekers” – which then increases to 43.2% in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The hardest hit – are young, black, females. These two groups are the most vulnerable. The unemployment rate of black women is currently more than 30 percent. The youth is also the most vulnerable group when it comes to finding a job. Citizens like myself – young, black and female continue to
find themselves on the periphery of economic inclusion despite concerted efforts, through policy to create space for them. In a country that prides itself on equality and creating equity – we need to ask ourselves, where did we go wrong? South Africa’s economic blues started before Covid-19. In the throes of several technical recessions, struggling with low growth, muted investor confidence and increasing debt levels, our economy has been on the precipice of a crisis in terms of job creation. The fall out of the pandemic and subsequent lock downs have cost most women like myself – their livihoods … and even more so, their lives.
Inspire | Connect | Empower
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