Johannesburg is the economic heart of South Africa. But if you walk through parts of Soweto, Alexandra, or Diepsloot, you will see many young people sitting around with nothing to do. The official unemployment rate in Gauteng is around 33% and for youth it is even higher – above 50% in some areas. In this post I will explain why unemployment in Johannesburg is so high, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it as a job seeker.
A Few Reasons to look at Unemployment in Johannesburg
First, let me give you the reasons that economists talk about. The economy is not growing fast enough to create new jobs. Many companies have closed down since 2020 because of load shedding, high electricity costs, and poor logistics at the ports. When companies close, people lose jobs. And new companies are not opening fast enough to replace them.
Another reason is a mismatch between skills and jobs. Companies need people who can use computers, speak English well, and do basic maths. But many job seekers left school without these skills. I am not blaming the person – the education system has problems. But if you have no matric or a weak matric, you will struggle to find formal work. That is just the truth.
Also, crime and transport costs make it hard. If you live in Tembisa and the job is in Sandton, you might spend R50 on taxis every day. That is R1000 per month. If the job pays R4000, you are left with R3000. For some people, that is not enough to survive, so they stay home and look for something closer. But closer jobs are fewer.
Now, let me stop complaining. The important question is: what can you do, starting tomorrow, to improve your chances? Fact is there is Unemployment in Johannesburg so what do we do about it?
My Opinions | Unemployment in Johannesburg
Option one: look for informal or semi-formal work. Not everyone can get a job at a bank or a government department. But you can sell vegetables at a taxi rank, you can wash cars, you can clean houses, you can do gardening. These are not glamorous but they give you money and they give you something to put on your CV. I know a woman in Alexandra who started selling airtime and snacks from her shack. After two years, she saved enough to rent a small shop. She now employs two people. That is progress.
Option two: get a free online certificate. There are many free courses on platforms like ALX (they offer virtual assistant and sales courses), Google Digital Skills, and Microsoft Learn. Even if you only have a smartphone and data, you can complete these courses. Put the certificate on your CV and on LinkedIn. It shows employers that you are serious. I did a free Excel course last year and it helped me get a data capture interview.
Opinion 3 & 4
Option three: use the government’s employment services. The Department of Employment and Labour runs the ESSA (Employment Services of South Africa) platform. You register online, upload your CV, and then you get alerts for jobs and learnerships in your area. It is free. Many people do not know about it. Also look for YES (Youth Employment Service) programmes – they give you a one year paid work experience.
Option four: start a side hustle with no money. You do not need capital to start. For example, you can offer to buy groceries for elderly people in your street and charge a small fee. You can help people apply for jobs online – many older people do not know how to use a computer. You can tutor a neighbour’s child in maths for R50 per hour. Small money adds up and this help in solving the Unemployment in Johannesburg believe it or not.
Thoughts??
I know these are not perfect solutions. They do not fix the big economy. But while the government and big business argue about interest rates and policies, you need to eat today. So focus on what you can control.
One more thing: do not isolate yourself. Go to your local community centre or library and ask about training programmes. In Johannesburg, the City of Joburg runs free digital skills workshops in some areas. Also check out Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator – they help young people find first jobs and learnerships. I have seen many success stories from Harambee.
Concluding my findings for Unemployment in Johannesburg
In conclusion, unemployment in Johannesburg is a huge problem. But there are small steps you can take to improve your situation. Get a certificate, register on ESSA, start a small hustle, and meet people. And never stop applying for jobs. Sometimes you apply to 100 jobs and only one calls you back. That one call can change your life.
