Browsing by Author "Mabela, Constance Sarah"
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- ItemThe effects of education on employment from a gender perspective, factoring in spatial effects(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Mabela, Constance Sarah; Geyer, Herman; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the new democracy, government has put in place various policy directives promoting equal opportunities for males and females in the country. However, while improvements in educational attainment have been experienced (particularly for females), gender inequalities in the South African labour market remain large. The present study analyses the relationship between levels of education and employment using data from three censuses (1996, 2001 and 2011) to determine whether the potential for gaining employment and the type of job attained is equivalent for males and females between the ages of 15 and 64, within the period 1996 to 2011. The study is undertaken from a gender perspective in order to ascertain differences in female and male outcomes. Spatial effects are factored in to explain geographical variances in employment and occupation. The results showed an imbalance between male and female labour market participation. Although there was a higher proportion of females in the population of working age, females did not participate in the labour market to the same extent as males. On one hand, they were over represented among the unemployed, on the other hand those that were employed mainly worked in the lower echelons of the occupational structure. In contrast, males dominated in employment, suggesting greater employment access for males than for females. While education was the strongest predictor both for improved male and female employment, this was more relevant for females. However, among females, addition demographic and socio-economic factors further impacted employment and occupation outcomes. Spatial effects also played a role in determining access to employment. The highest percentages of employment and skilled occupations were found in districts and metros belonging to the economic hubs of the country i.e., Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. However, while more males recorded the highest percentages than females in most areas, the largest gender differences (in favour of males) were shown to be prominent in areas with the highest concentration of lower levels of educational attainment, further suggesting the importance of education in reducing gender inequities in employment. The clustering of specific industrial sectors in various districts and metros also impacted the extent to which levels of employment for males and females were distributed within different geographical areas, leading to gender employment inequalities in those areas.