unemployment | Terry Bell Writes

Browsing All posts tagged under »unemployment«

The potentially explosive reality of joblessness

February 19, 2020

While some commentators clutch at straws of optimism, citing unchanged quarterly unemployment statistics, the reality is that what exists is not just a crisis, it is a tragedy of massive proportions with socially explosive potential.

Statistical facts and reality

February 18, 2020

It is necessary to look behind the bald unemployment statistics to discover the truly frightening reality. An "official" rate of joblessness at 29.1% if far fromn the more accurate "expanded" figure of 38.7%. And even that does not reflect the true measure of unemployment in South Africa.

The hidden entrepreneurs

July 14, 2019

Entrepreneurial spirit has again been hailed by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, but within the context of the digital revolution, of tablets, coding and bullet trains. But excellent examples of this very spirit are, are mostly ignored. Yet they are hidden in plain sight among te waste pickers and the growinbg legions of the working hjomeless.

Looking to real alternatives

August 31, 2018

As the global economic crunch continues and seems to be worsening, perhaps it is time to look to the examples of democratic control manifest in the recovered factories movements of Latin America. There may even be sound lessons to be gained by researching what happened in Paris in 1871.

Hope amid the gathering fog of populism

August 13, 2018

gathering fog of poisonous populism that already threatens everyone. However, there are some straws of hope to cling to in an increasingly turbulent political sea.

Lies, damned lies & statistics

July 1, 2018

As austerity policies start to bite, it is essential that reliable statistical data be critical analysed and interpreted to avoid the distortions of such material by politicians and others with self-serving agendas to push. Only in this way will we be able to see a clear way forward, uninfluenced by political agendas that are all too frequently spiced with wishful thinking.

Time to focus on Gross Domestic Benefit

June 17, 2018

Unless there is some radical change, an estimated 71 million unemployed youth will be the forerunners of what may turn out to be the first of discarded generations of the future. Perhaps it is time to stop focusing on growth — on GDP — and instead target GDB (Gross Domestic — and international — Benefit).

Youth may yet show the way forward

June 15, 2018

There is little for the youth of today to celebrate as they contemplate the present and the prospects for themselves in the future. For most — and especially those with little formal schooling — current prospects are bleak and the future outlook bleaker still. But change could come. The missing ingredient: political will and as the South African youth of 1976 showed, such will can be awakened