Abstract
Abstract : Unemployment is a concerning social phenomenon globally, associated with poor socio-economic outcomes for individuals, communities and societies (Lam, Leibbrandt & Mlatsheni, 2008). Youth unemployment is a critical issue, given the youth bulge in many countries, including South Africa. The marked challenge with youth unemployment is that it negatively impacts on the economy, as it is associated with a lower Gross Domestic Product (GDP), due to the loss of economic productivity stemming from the absence of youth in the labour market (Aliber, 2003). The inadequacies in the education system, and structural inheritances from apartheid such as the urban-rural divide and the racialisation of unemployment are some of the contributors to the high unemploymnet rate, especially among the youth. Furthermore, literature indicates that youth unemployment is associated with poor physiological and mental health. A substantial body of knowledge exists on unemployment and youth unemployment, with emphasis on the causes and intervention responses, both internationally and locally. There has been little focus on institutions that support the youth as they seek employment, and, there is a paucity of research on the experiences of the youth in their job-seeking endeavours. This qualitative study was aimed at exploring the job-seeking experiences of unemployed youth Twelve participants aged 18-24 were selected through purposive sampling from a youth development programme in Braamfontein. Of the twelve participants, six participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews, while the remaining six formed part of a focus group discussion. The data was recorded electronically using an audio recorder and analysed using ATLAS.TI using a thematic analysis. The study found that youth employ multiple job-searching strategies, with web-based searching and in-person inquiry as the most common. Youth face several job-seeking challenges, including difficulty in accessing employment due to limited financial resources, pressure to support family financially, and the underutilisation of their skills and talents. In addition, it was found out that the youth benefit from social support particularly from friends and family, and spirituality buffers unemployed youth from the stresses of job-seeking. It is recommended that collaboration between stakeholders such as government, corporates and civil society be promoted to address some of the access-related challenges unemployed youth face. Future research can explore the impact that youth development programmes have on employability, as well as the plausibility of a youth transport and job-search subsidy to reduce job-searching costs.
M.A. (Social Work)