Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, has called for a data-driven, evidence-based approach to tackle South Africa's youth unemployment challenge.
The Minister delivered the remarks at the Government Technical Advisory Center for Public Economics conference held under the theme “Counting the Crisis: Data, Evidence and Solutions for Youth Unemployment in South Africa”.
holistic understanding
“The focus of the conference also reminds us of three important things.
“First, that we must be honest about the scale of the crisis. Second, that we must build a holistic understanding of the challenge of unemployment. That means the figures must be put in the same breath with the people and the lives behind them.
“Third, the topic forces us to go beyond describing the problem and expressing our concerns to evidence, and applying solution-driven evidence,” Godongwana said Tuesday.
According to Statistics South Africa's quarterly labor force survey released in May, youth unemployment for those aged 15-24 stands at 60.9%, with the unemployment rate for those aged 25-34 at 40.6% – numbers the minister called “glaring”.
“However, we must be careful. Data should not breed fatalism. Data should drive better decisions. If we count on the crisis merely to reiterate how serious it is, we have not done enough.
“We must count what works, what does not work, who is being reached, who is being missed, what the fiscal cost is, what can be scaled up and what should be redesigned,” Godongwana said.
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inclusive economy
He said the challenge of youth unemployment should also be targeted along with a fast-growing, inclusive economy.
“But development will not happen on its own. It needs reforms. Reforms need implementation. Implementation needs capable institutions.”
“And capable institutions require reliable public finances, good data, accountability and discipline,” the minister said.
He asked young participants at the conference to approach it with critical thinking – urging them not to “accept easy answers… slogans from government, business, your university professors or NGO leaders”.
“You are not here just to listen to old people discuss your future. You are here because South Africa needs your intelligence, your discipline and your honesty.
“We need young economists, data scientists, public managers, social scientists, engineers, researchers and practitioners who can combine empathy with evidence. We need people who can look at a spreadsheet and still see a human being.
“[Continue to]ask the hard questions. Ask what works. Ask who benefits. Question what the trade-offs are, and what the evidence is saying. Ask what needs to change in the state, in firms, in universities, in communities and in the way we use public money,” the minister urged.
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find solution
He also encouraged the youth to develop solutions to tackle the challenges faced by them.
“South Africa needs a generation that can move from criticizing the situation to providing solutions.
“The same message goes out to all other participants. To civil servants, business leaders and civil society partners. Use this platform to chart a real path forward,” Godongwana said.