Fifty-one percent of South Africans between 15 and 24 are unemployed, an SA Institute of Race Relations survey has found.
This was more than double the national unemployment rate of 25 percent, according to the study released on Monday.
The survey found that youth unemployment varied “considerably” among race groups.
It was highest among young African women, at 63 percent, and lowest among young Indian men, at 15 percent.
Of all young Africans, 57 percent were unemployed, as were 47percent of coloured youth, 23 percent of Indian youth and 21 percent of white youth.
The data, which was sourced from Statistics South Africa’s quarterly Labour Force Survey, showed that the unemployment rate declined significantly in higher age groups to 29 percent for those aged 25 to 34, 17 percent for 35 to 44-year-olds, 12 percent for 45 to 54-year-olds, and eight percent for 55 to 64-year-olds.
Unemployment was lowest among white women aged between 55 and 64 at 1.5 percent.
Lucy Holborn, of the institute's research department, said the 1.4 million young people officially counted as unemployed did not include those in full-time education. - Sapa