Originally published in South Africa’s Sunday Times
Governments do not create many jobs—globally, they employ about 10%, and in South Africa only 6-8%, of the workforce. Instead, governments’ role is to create an environment where the private sector can drive employment. However, it is fair to say that South Africa has struggled to create such an environment over the past 15 years, with limited economic growth and job opportunities for its expanding labor force. With unemployment over 30% (excluding discouraged work seekers) and two-thirds of young workers jobless, improving conditions for private sector growth is more urgent than ever. These challenges have kept poverty and inequality entrenched, with nearly 39 million people surviving on less than R127 a day, equivalent to the $6.85 poverty line for upper-middle income countries.
Continue reading
Creating more and better jobs is central to our work at the World Bank and a shared goal for virtually all countries —developed and developing alike. But oftentimes the policy debate turns to the cost and effectiveness of programs and projects in creating jobs.
than 50 years, the World Bank’s Young Professionals Program has been the preeminent program preparing global development leaders. If you have a passion for international development and a drive to lead, we want to hear from you. The short window of opportunity is now!
Netherlands for the World Bank 
You must be logged in to post a comment.