YOUTH unemployment is a time bomb and "the greatest risk to social stability in SA", according to the National Planning Commission’s diagnostic report released in 2011. Yet, while there has been considerable debate on the extent, nature and implications of youth unemployment, there appears to be little concerted action to address it.The economy has failed to keep up with the growth of the labour force and has not invested sufficiently in human development. Unemployment, especially among young people, continues to grow.Chronic unemployment is compounded by the absence of up-skilling opportunities and is leading to widespread frustration and dissatisfaction — especially among the under-educated, unqualified and unemployed youth. Combined with rocketing living costs, this is fuelling drug and alcohol abuse, gang-related crime and violence — especially in deprived communities.If the present situation persists, a young person who fails to get a job by the age of 24 is unlikely to ever ge...
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