South Africa’s escalating youth unemployment crisis, with a staggering rate of 61%, as reported by Trading Economics, has left traditional career paths facing unprecedented challenges.
Unemployment blues fuel content creation
Adding to the concern, the expanded definition of unemployment, which includes those who have given up on seeking work, remains daunting at 42.6%.
source: tradingeconomics.com
However, despite these alarming statistics, a wave of creativity has emerged among South Africa’s youth, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok.
South African youth are actively exploring alternative avenues for securing their livelihoods, signalling a move away from conventional career choices.
One increasingly prominent path is the world of content creation, driven by the expansion of digital platforms and the surging demand for engaging online content.
TikTok, the leading short-form video platform, launched its #LevelUpAfrica program in 2021. The program encourages South African content creators to charter a creative path online while nurturing the growing, vibrant community.
ALSO READ: BRICS leaders set to discuss bloc-wide unemployment
Lights, camera and action!
At the heart of this program lies an immersive in-person experience.
Content creators, from beginners to public figures, are offered a series of masterclasses in content creation.
These sessions help creators leverage TikTok’s best practices while equipping them with insights into the platform’s Community Guidelines, the best use of app tools, and the platform’s Trust and Safety guide.
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Bianca Sibiya said, “The #LevelUpAfrica program has empowered South African content creates to cultivate their personal brands and explore potential collaborations and partnerships that have enabled many to grow into multipotentialites underpinned by their passions.”
“The program is South Africa’s premier content creator education experience, offering a platform for creators to unlock their potential, enhance their TikTok skills, and embark on a journey into a realm of endless creativity,” she added.
Content creator Yoliswa Gumede, who has been part of the #LevelUpAfrica program, shared her experience and the key insights gained: “The most important lesson that I learned while I was attending these events is defining my unique selling point as an influencer. That helped me build my brand and my community on TikTok. That helped me hyperfocus on the type of content I wanted to create and the type of community I wanted to create on TikTok.”
Gumede added, “I feel like I can now clearly define my identity as a content creator and the type of community I would like to grow on my page.”
@yoliswa.g So @TikTok invited me to one of their #levelupafrica events for content creators. It was such a lovely experience, got to learn so much from their workshop and had the opportunity to interact with my favourite brands. #levelupafrica #africarising #yoliswaswardrobe #yoliswastyles #yoliswashops #tiktoksouthafrica ♬ beautiful jazz piano in Autumn, 7 minutes(871493) – ricca
BRICS counterparts’ unemployment at a glance
Brazil
In a positive economic development, Brazil’s unemployment rate has averaged 7.8% over the three months leading up to August 2023, aligning with market expectations and marking a significant milestone as the lowest level since 2015.
This achievement underscores the ongoing resilience of the Brazilian labour market despite the central bank’s decision to maintain elevated real interest rates.
The latest data reveals a notable decline in the unemployment rate compared to the moving quarter ending in May, which stood at 8.3%. This impressive drop signifies the tightening of the labour market in Brazil, with the economy showing signs of recovery and job creation.
source: tradingeconomics.com
Russia
Russia’s unemployment rate has held steady at a remarkable and historic low of 3% for August 2023, aligning with market expectations.
This historically low unemployment rate comes amid significant difficulties for the Russian economy, including a severe worker shortage driven by multiple factors, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, mobilisation efforts, and emigration.
Despite these challenges, the official unemployment rate has remained surprisingly stable.
source: tradingeconomics.com
India
According to recent data, India’s unemployment rate has experienced significant fluctuations over the past five years. The data provides insights into the country’s economic trends and is an essential reference for policymakers, businesses, and researchers.
source: tradingeconomics.com
From 2018 to 2023, the unemployment rate in India averaged 8.15%, reflecting the dynamic nature of the country’s labour market.
During this period, India faced record highs and lows in unemployment figures.
In April 2020, the nation hit an all-time high with an unemployment rate of 23.50 % due to the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a period of significant uncertainty and economic hardship for many.
Conversely, in September 2022, India experienced a record-low unemployment rate of 6.4%, indicating a positive shift in the employment landscape.
China
China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate displayed a positive trend in August 2023, as it edged down to 5.2% from the previous month’s 5.3%. These latest figures returned to levels seen in June, marking a 16-month low in unemployment rates.
In the breakdown of the surveyed unemployment rates, it was reported that the population with local household registration had an unemployment rate of 5.3%, while those with non-local household registration experienced a slightly lower rate of 4.8%.
Furthermore, among individuals with non-local agricultural household registration, the unemployment rate stood at an even lower 4.4%.
Additionally, the jobless rate in 31 large cities and towns showed a decline from 5.4% in July to 5.3% in August, signifying the consistency of this positive trend in various urban areas across the country.
source: tradingeconomics.com
Saudi Arabia
In a significant development for the Saudi Arabian labour market, the unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2023 decreased to 4.9%, marking a decline from the 5.1% reported in the previous quarter.
This positive shift highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s workforce, although challenges in gender disparities persist.
When breaking down the unemployment figures by gender, it becomes evident that gender disparities in employment opportunities persist. Among men, the jobless rate stood at a notably lower 2.5%, while for women, it remained significantly higher at 12.9%.
These disparities underscore the need for continued efforts to promote gender equality and create more opportunities for women in the workforce.
source: tradingeconomics.com
