Briefing Paper

The South African Township Economy and Informal Micro – Enterprises : What are the Prospects for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship?

Most youth will need to find employment in the informal sector, if they want to be employed. Yet data on labour force participation indicates that youth are not widely active in self-employed activities or informally employed in micro-enterprises. What then would the prospects for youth employment in informal micro-enterprises be? This brief discusses the statistically obscure work that youth perform in the township economy. Drawing on survey data and research experience, the main pathways through which youth enter the informal economy is analyzed. Finally, it is reflected on actions that can amplify youth entrepreneurship and employment.