NEVA MAKGETLA: Core skills education risks merely boosting emigration
More needs to be done to promote jobs-rich growth to keep skilled people in the country
Start talking about SA’s joblessness problem and many people instantly shift to skills development. But education is not a panacea. Undoubtedly, SA’s appallingly unequal and consequently deeply inefficient education system makes it harder to grow employment. But the long-standing structure of production in SA is an even bigger drag on jobs.
On the one hand, the mass destruction of small (black-owned) business under apartheid entrenched unusually low levels of self-employment. On the other, SA depends far more on mining than its peer economies, which encourages more capital-intensive, less jobs-rich growth. Focusing on skills development without addressing these issues will not do much about the jobs deficit in the foreseeable future...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.