Joblessness has become a fixture of the South African economy. Understanding the patterns of who is out of work and for how long is key to designing policies to address the problem.
Most people used the first coronavirus check to pad their savings or pay down debt.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Philosophy can help us see how some of the implicit beliefs we hold about work are mere myths. Success isn’t always due to effort, and the idea some jobs are more shameful to have than others.
Financial hardships in particular are likely to lead to ongoing mental health problems, even as the pandemic subsides. Our program could help many people whose mental health has suffered during COVID.
‘You wanted to speak to me about the job …’
Fabio Camandona
The base level of JobSeeker and related payments will increase by $50 a fortnight from April 1 under changes that will also toughen the obligations on people seeking work.
It’s important to get the figures right to know if we are truely out of any recession, or if we need further stimulus to help get more people into work.
The government has released the latest Tax Office breakdown of the numbers coming off the program, amid concerns its end in late March will see a rise in unemployment.
Two unemployed men tout for casual jobs on a street in Cape Town.
EFE-EPA/Nic Bothma
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened unemployment and poverty, showing the need for the government to permanently expand income support to working-age adults.
Governor Philip Lowe at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Governor Lowe believes the unemployment rate will need to fall well below 5% before inflation climbs to the point where he needs to jack up rates.
People queue for food aid south of Johannesburg. The impact of COVID-19 on people’s livelihoods has been severe.
Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
South Africa’s economic recovery plan must focus on at least three areas: protecting vulnerable populations, supporting the vulnerable sectors and external trade diversification.
Biden has made fixing the economy one of his top priorities.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Biden proposed $1.9 trillion in new coronavirus relief spending to help with the economic fallout of COVID-19. Four economists have a few ideas for him.
Formerly incarcerated entrepreneur Coss Marte speaks at a conference in 2015.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for WIRED
The inadequacy of the Newstart payment was recognised long before the pandemic. We shouldn’t go back to it.
The man on the right wearing the Trump hat was identified by his badge as an employee of Navistar Direct Marketing, which fired him.
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta