For many experienced professionals aged 35 to 50, finding a job can feel like running towards a finish line that keeps getting moved further away.
By Zuko Komisa
South Africa is facing a quiet crisis in the job market, and it is no longer just younger jobseekers who are feeling the pinch.
Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth recently made it clear that denying someone a job simply because of their age is illegal, with the Employment Equity Act explicitly banning unfair age discrimination.
Yet for many experienced professionals aged 35 to 50, finding a job can feel like running towards a finish line that keeps getting moved further away.
So, if the law is on your side, why are so many qualified workers struggling to get a foot in the door?
To explore how we got here, Professor Mokoena recently joined Drive 959 to help us unpack how South Africa’s labour market has evolved to create such sharp obstacles for mid-career jobseekers.
Mokoena highlighted how state initiatives unintentionally sideline older jobseekers, noting,
“We find that many of the policy position focus on creatin employment for the youth, which is defined as 15-24 years old. There is a sense that the age 35 is the threshold. Programs like NYDA focus on people below 35, things like employment tax incentives, even the program by Presidency, the Presidential employment initiative also focus on young people. If you look at programs like YES (The Youth Employment Services), also focus on young people. I think what you’re seeing in society is that people over 35 tend to be marginalised.” said Mokoena.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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