UNEMPLOYMENT
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA: Rise in working-age population ratio calls for youth-focused plans
Education is key to improving the lot of millions of dependant young people not involved in productive activities
In a recent report from Statistics SA, Whither a Demographic Dividend SA?, a vital question is posed: is SA heading towards a demographic dividend or a disaster? The report explains that SA has the potential to experience a demographic dividend as result of the fact that the working-age population, aged 15 to 64 years, is rising as a share of the country’s total population. SA’s working-age population ratio is peaking at about 65% of the total population, up from 57% in 1985. This should mean that the country has a higher proportion of its people in that age bracket who are involved in work and production. And a lower proportion — the very young and the elderly — who are dependent and require care. This demographic change should drive economic growth and improve public finances. The reality, though, is that SA’s very high rate of youth unemployment has all the hallmarks of a demographic disaster in the making, in which millions of young people find themselves living as dependants ra...
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