Stress of unemployment takes a toll

In South Africa, someone is considered to be a discouraged job seeker if they want to work but there are no jobs in their area; they are unable to find a position that requires their skills; or they have lost hope of finding any kind of employment. All three describe Khanya Nkosi, after 18 months of unemployment.

Based in Johannesburg, the economic hub of South Africa, the young woman is a five year marketing and communications professional who has held positions in several companies. In November 2014, she took a voluntary retrenchment package when the firm she was working at ran into financial difficulties. She has not had a job since.

“The stress of unemployment has taken a toll on me. Constantly looking for a job has become disheartening, making me feel like I’m useless and not good enough. I have become paranoid in social situations, worried that someone will ask me what I’m doing? And that they’ll judge me if I say: ‘Nothing’,” she explains.

Her days are spent going through job portals and company websites, writing letters of application and tailoring her curriculum vitae for each post — even entry level positions, despite her experience. Eight interviews got her hopes up, but the came to nothing.

Despite still being relatively comfortable with the help of her family and by finding some piece work, she describes unemployment as: “The most difficult, most devastating experience”.

She has friends in a similar position.

Last week, the Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that unemployment in the country stood at 26.7 per cent. This is the official unemployment rate. The expanded unemployment rate, which includes people who have stopped looking for work, was reportedly over 36 per cent for the first quarter of the year. It is estimated that two thirds of young South Africans — 16 to 34 years — do not have a job.

The persistently high rate of unemployment and huge disparities in wealth and income continues to hamper economic development in South Africa. Talk of warding off credit rating downgrades and reducing political uncertainty has little meaning for those for whom the economic jargon translates into: No jobs available.

(Note: Names have been changed for the article)