Abstract
M.Comm.
South Africa has experienced a long period of high unemployment. While the
economy has achieved relatively higher GDP growth rates in the recent past,
unfortunately not as many jobs have been created. This is because of, amongst other
constraints, the skills shortage experienced. This shortage of skills is not solely the
result of the emigration of professionals since the inception of the new political
dispensation in 1994. This paper investigated the economic sectors showing high
growth, with a view of identifying the sectors that can be promoted for high investment
and hence the creation of employment for the country’s labour force. The secondary
and the tertiary sectors have been found to contributing more to the country’s GDP
growth and could create more employment opportunities if promoted by more
investment. However, the unemployment experienced is mainly structural in nature
and the country should concentrate on human capital development and skills
development to reduce it. The education of the labour force in South Africa has been
found to be concentrated in the secondary level. This has raised questions as to the
ability of the country’s education system to fulfil its role of empowering the labour
force. More than ten years into democracy, blacks are the most disadvantaged
population group regarding the levels of appropriate educational qualifications making
them contribute the most to the unemployed labour force.