Unemployment is like a full-time job with no pay

UNEMPLOYMENT in South Africa has become a relentless daily struggle, with millions treating job hunting as a full-time job without pay.

- WENDY DONDOLO

(IOL Graphics)

Each day, countless South Africans gather taxi fares, buy mobile data, and print certified documents in pursuit of elusive job opportunities.

This ongoing challenge is not temporary; for many, it leads to severe emotional and financial strain that can last for months or even years.

Research by the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) at the University of Johannesburg, supported by Youth Capital, found that young South Africans spend on average R938 per month seeking employment. That figure, calculated by CSDA, represents a devastating financial burden: the cost of printing CVs, buying data, taking taxis to interviews, paying for certification or recruitment fees - costs that many households can barely meet.

“Young people’ ability to search for, find and hold on to work opportunities is significantly affected by whether they have the financial resources to look for work,” says Youth Capital. “While the survey highlights that the cost of looking for work is one piece of the puzzle, it is critical that we recognise the roadblocks young people face beyond the financial cost; and that we identify and integrate a range of existing interventions to reduce the overall financial cost and time spent looking for work”

For many, it is an impossible trade-off between survival and opportunity. “You have to choose between buying electricity or going to an interview,’ says 26-year-old job-seeker Zin-