Finance and Economic Opportunities
- What is the total number of unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 35 years in the province;
- whether internships are formal employment or a form of short-term employment or a form of training?
Question 1
The total number of unemployed people between the ages of 15 and 34 years in the Western Cape is 467,414 in 2023Q1, according to Statistics South Africa.
Source: Statistics South Africa (2023)
In the case of provincial youth unemployment rates, in 2022 Q4 the rate for the Western Cape is the lowest of the three South African economic hubs, registering 32.9%.
Youth Unemployment Rates (15-34 years,%) | 2022Q4 |
| |
Western Cape | 32.9 |
| |
KwaZulu-Natal | 45.5 | ||
Gauteng | 47.5 | ||
Question 2
According to Statistics South Africa, a job is defined as an activity by the respondent for pay, profit or household gain. An individual is regarded as employed if they are working in any such activity. Formal employment refers to a job in the formal sector.
By these definitions, the beneficiaries of internships that are carrying out an activity for pay, profit or household gain, in which they have a contract in the formal sector, meet the definition of a formal job and further provide students workplace experience and/or an opportunity to acquire and practice work skills.
