South African Youth and the Labor Market
South Africa continues to be marked by high youth unemployment. This paper investigates youth labor market perspectives in northern South Africa in the light of data from the Livelihoods, Religion and Youth Survey. In addition to standard explanatory variabless of labor market outcomes, it explores...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Youth |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/4/32 |
| _version_ | 1797454923280941056 |
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| author | Philipp Öhlmann |
| author_facet | Philipp Öhlmann |
| author_sort | Philipp Öhlmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | South Africa continues to be marked by high youth unemployment. This paper investigates youth labor market perspectives in northern South Africa in the light of data from the Livelihoods, Religion and Youth Survey. In addition to standard explanatory variabless of labor market outcomes, it explores whether the ‘soft’ factors of social capital and religion might contribute to youth’s labor market success. Methodologically, the study draws on descriptive statistics and the estimation of linear probability models. The results indicate that religious social capital goes along with improved labor market success, while there is no indication in the data that (non-religious) social capital or religiosity are positively correlated with labor market performance among the youth in the sample. The social capital created in religious communities seems to contribute to youth labor market success. Further research should investigate how these structures can serve as models for the improvement of government interventions aiming at improving youth labor market outcomes. Moreover, the results are in line with the findings of previous research on spatial mismatches in the labor market and highlight the need for job creation, particularly in rural areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:44:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2eded85e59b4684be53a584a0cfccac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-995X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:44:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Youth |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2eded85e59b4684be53a584a0cfccac2023-11-24T18:44:42ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2022-09-012444145610.3390/youth2040032South African Youth and the Labor MarketPhilipp Öhlmann0Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana, Plot 4775, Notwane Rd, Gaborone, BotswanaSouth Africa continues to be marked by high youth unemployment. This paper investigates youth labor market perspectives in northern South Africa in the light of data from the Livelihoods, Religion and Youth Survey. In addition to standard explanatory variabless of labor market outcomes, it explores whether the ‘soft’ factors of social capital and religion might contribute to youth’s labor market success. Methodologically, the study draws on descriptive statistics and the estimation of linear probability models. The results indicate that religious social capital goes along with improved labor market success, while there is no indication in the data that (non-religious) social capital or religiosity are positively correlated with labor market performance among the youth in the sample. The social capital created in religious communities seems to contribute to youth labor market success. Further research should investigate how these structures can serve as models for the improvement of government interventions aiming at improving youth labor market outcomes. Moreover, the results are in line with the findings of previous research on spatial mismatches in the labor market and highlight the need for job creation, particularly in rural areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/4/32youthlabor marketunemploymentSouth Africareligionsocial capital |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Öhlmann South African Youth and the Labor Market Youth youth labor market unemployment South Africa religion social capital |
| title | South African Youth and the Labor Market |
| title_full | South African Youth and the Labor Market |
| title_fullStr | South African Youth and the Labor Market |
| title_full_unstemmed | South African Youth and the Labor Market |
| title_short | South African Youth and the Labor Market |
| title_sort | south african youth and the labor market |
| topic | youth labor market unemployment South Africa religion social capital |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/4/32 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT philippohlmann southafricanyouthandthelabormarket |