Abstract
Youth unemployment remains a global crisis with particularly severe implications in
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where structural economic exclusion and demographic
shifts exacerbate the vulnerability of young people. In South Africa's rural areas, such
as Rustenburg in the North-West Province, unemployment rates are among the
highest, compelling unemployed youth to adopt alternative survival strategies beyond
the formal labour market. This study investigates the diverse livelihood strategies
employed by unemployed youth in Rustenburg to cope with persistent joblessness.
These mixed livelihood strategies involve combining various sources of income,
equipping young people with adaptable means to manage unemployment. Grounded
in an integrated Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Sustainable
Livelihoods Approach (SLA) framework, the research examines how youth mobilise
their existing assets—human, physical, financial, and social—to engage in agricultural
production, entrepreneurship, informal wage labour, and social activities.
Utilising a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with
ten unemployed youth aged 18–34. The findings reveal that while agricultural
production remains constrained due to land access and negative perceptions,
entrepreneurship and informal wage labour dominate as adaptive strategies.
Furthermore, social activities emerged not merely as leisure pursuits but as vital
livelihood enablers that foster networks, mentorship, and emotional resilience. These
strategies reflect agency, innovation, and adaptability among unemployed youth.
The study concludes that mixed livelihood strategies serve as both a coping
mechanism and a foundation for sustainable living in economically marginalised
contexts. It calls for policy interventions that recognise and support these grassroots
efforts through increased access to resources, capacity-building initiatives, and
infrastructure development. By centring youth voices, the study contributes new
insights into rural unemployment and offers a path towards inclusive development
grounded in community strengths by exploring mixed livelihood strategies.