Unemployment in South Africa

Abstract Over the past 20 years the unemployment rate in South Africa has not fallen below 20% and stands at 25% in 2013. Racial inequality is also evident in unemployment. The unemployment rates of Africans in 1994 was 26%, it reached a peak of 37% in 2002 and was at 27% in 2007. In contrast, unemployment of whites consistently remained at 4% in 1994 and 2007, with a peak of 6% in 2002. This chapter analyses the reasons for high unemployment and measures to combat high unemployment.