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In today's blog we take a look at South Africa's youth. Where do they stay? What do they do with their time? Are they going to school? Do they work after school for money? Do they do household chores? Below we take a look at the latest set of results on the youth of South Africa as published by Statistics South Africa.
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SA's youth. Where are they and are they going to school?
With education of they youth remaining one of South Africa's biggest obstacles in the way of ensuring economic inclusion of all races and gender, the question has to be asked whether South Africa's youth is actually attending school. And if not, why not. And for those attending school. Do they have to work to cover their school fees? Or does their only work while being in school entail carrying their suitcase with books around? Or do parents give their children household chores to do? We will look to answer some of these questions below.
As the bar chart above shows the largest number youths (ages 7-17) is located in KwaZulu-Natal with roughly 2.6million youths in the province, Gauteng and Eastern Cape coming in in 2nd and 3rd place with 1.82 and 1.68million youths respectively. The Northern Cape has the least amount of youths with only just over 250 000 youths in the province. No real surprise there as it is South Africa's least most densely populated province.
While looking at the number of youths in each province is useful, the question is whether the overall population resembles the same structure as the youths? Or do the youth move to other provinces once they are done with schooling and start their tertiary education or start looking for jobs? The chart below shows the number of people per province (all ages). And the result is a little different to the one shown by the youths.
As can be seen when looking at South Africa's total population, Gauteng is the province with the most citizens (yet the province with the second largest amount of youths). Indicating that a large number of youths when becoming adults move into Gauteng in search of jobs. But as we discussed recently this is perhaps not the best idea as Gauteng has one of the highest unemployment rates of all provinces in South Africa. The Western Cape had the 5th largest amount of youths out of the 9 provinces in South Africa, but when looking at the overall population the Western Cape is the third biggest. Since Western Cape is known for their tertiary institutions one can only assume a large number of youths move in Western Cape when doing tertiary qualifications. Another possible reason for Western Cape being ranked higher in terms of total population compared to where it ranks with regards to the number of youths, is the fact that a large number of people decide to retire in the Western Cape.
So now that we know where the youths are located and what their locations look like relative to the rest of South Africa's population, the question is what do the youths do with their time? The bar chart below looks to answer the question about what they get up to with their time.
The majority of the youth (57%) reported that they study (attend school, home schooling, distance learning etc) AND do household chores. This while just over 20% of youths reported that they study, do household chores and are involved in economic activity. Thus 1 in 5 youths reported to be doing some for of economic activity while having studies and household chores to do (quiet a lot to cope with for a youth).
Then on the flip side of that just under 20% of youths reported to be involved in studying only. Thus no household chores and no form of economic activity or remunerative work taking place. So now that we have an idea of what the youth gets up to the question is is there different behaviour amongst the youth across different provinces?
The bar chart below compares the percentage of youth in each province involved in Economic activity, study and household chores vs Study only.
Then on the flip side of that just under 20% of youths reported to be involved in studying only. Thus no household chores and no form of economic activity or remunerative work taking place. So now that we have an idea of what the youth gets up to the question is is there different behaviour amongst the youth across different provinces?
The bar chart below compares the percentage of youth in each province involved in Economic activity, study and household chores vs Study only.
it is clear from the above graphic there are large scale differences in the youth's time spent across provinces. With Gauteng, Northern and Western Cape all having particularly high percentage of youths who study (attend school) only, while doing no household chores or any from of economic activity/work.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo there is a large percentage of youths involved in economic activity, household chores and studying (attending school), with all three provinces showing more than 25% of its youth actively involved in economic activity, household chores and studying. While in Guateng, Western Cape and the Free State less than 5% of the youths in these provinces are involved in economic activity, household chores and studying.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo there is a large percentage of youths involved in economic activity, household chores and studying (attending school), with all three provinces showing more than 25% of its youth actively involved in economic activity, household chores and studying. While in Guateng, Western Cape and the Free State less than 5% of the youths in these provinces are involved in economic activity, household chores and studying.
The bar chart below looks at the more worrying grouping in which the youth are seen as "Idle". I.e those youths not doing anything (not going to school or working or doing any form of household chores) and those that do household chores only (and are not attending school or doing any form of work).
The Northern Cape has the highest percentage of children that are doing household chores only (1.7%) and the highest percentage of youths that are seen as "Idle", with 0.8% of youths in the Northern Cape seen as being idle. Gauteng has the lowest percentage of youths that are idle with 0.28%. While KwaZulu-Natal has the lowest percentage of youths that are involved in household chores only.
North West has the 2nd highest percentage of youths only doing household chores (1.36%) and then Western Cape and Free State the joint 3rd highest (1.15%). North West also has the 2nd highest percentage of youths that are idle (0.53%) while the Free State is 3rd with 0.52% .
Lastly we take a look at the grouping that contains the largest percentage of youths. And that is Study and household chores. Roughly 60% of all youths fall under this category. Below the provincial breakdown.
North West has the 2nd highest percentage of youths only doing household chores (1.36%) and then Western Cape and Free State the joint 3rd highest (1.15%). North West also has the 2nd highest percentage of youths that are idle (0.53%) while the Free State is 3rd with 0.52% .
Lastly we take a look at the grouping that contains the largest percentage of youths. And that is Study and household chores. Roughly 60% of all youths fall under this category. Below the provincial breakdown.
At least it is a positive sign that the majority of youths are studying while at the same time doing some form of household chores (be it for pocket money) or to learn the value of hard work. Now here's to hoping all youths stay in school and they do not drop out. As its a major problem in SA where only about 60% of students that start school in grade 1 make it past matric.