Summary

Youth unemployment remains an intractable problem in the Caribbean with an average rate of 21.4 percent compared to 9.6 percent in the general population (ILO,2021). While commentators highlight the inappropriateness of education and training, or poor work ethic as some of the factors which prevent youths from finding jobs, this paper points to structural factors within the labour market as the main causes of youth unemployment. Some of the main factors include the size of the youth cohort, the weak aggregate demand for labour, the industrial structure of the country and high retention rates of older workers who have passed the age of retirement. Using data from the Jamaica Labour Force Surveys 2018 and 2021, we demonstrated that unemployed youths are no different in their qualifications when compared to employed youths. However, females although better qualified than their male counterparts experience higher rates of unemployment. Similarly, youths from disadvantaged social backgrounds also face greater challenges in finding work. The paper challenges policy makers and employers to act decisively so that the growing number of young people in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean can realizing their true economic potential.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Youth, Unemployment, Labour market participation , Jamaica 

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Summary

In South Africa, there appears to be a paradigm shift where the majority of the country’s children are taken care of by their grandparents. This article explores the states of reciprocity existing in grandparent-grandchildren care in Mdlankomo location, Libode of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The study utilised a qualitative approach to explore the perceptions of grandparents on reciprocity between them and their grandchildren. Nine grandparents were interviewed. The findings revealed that grandparents manifested love for their grandchildren, who also reciprocated the gesture; delinquent behaviours of grandchildren exasperated their grandparents; the conflict between grandparents and grandchildren ensued when children suspected the abuse of their children’s welfare grant by their grandparents. The researchers urge the Department of Social Development and NGOs working in the children’s domain to strengthen the programmes for the well-being of older persons and children

Keywords (separate with commas)

Reciprocity; Best interests of children; Aging and older persons; Child delinquency; Child welfare grants