LETTER: Is GDP data wrong too?

If per capita GDP growth had been just 2% over the past 17 years, the economy would be 40% bigger

South Africa needs to start putting pressure on the government to deliver services to consumers and the private sector because until the economy grows, everyone will be under pressure, says Momentum CEO Jeanette Marais. Picture: 123RF
South Africa needs to start putting pressure on the government to deliver services to consumers and the private sector because until the economy grows, everyone will be under pressure, says Momentum CEO Jeanette Marais. Picture: 123RF

Kabelo Khumalo’s article on employment in SA’s informal sector refers (“Stats SA stands by jobless data as calls for review mount”, June 10).

Over the past 17 years GDP growth has been less than population growth. If per capita GDP growth had been just 2%, the economy would be 40% larger.

Without that growth we would expect youth unemployment to be extremely elevated. Does Capitec’s lending success suggest that our GDP figures are also wrong?

The broader employment issue is: how many of our young adults have jobs in which their employers invest meaningfully in their skills development?

Shawn Hagedorn

Via BusinessLIVE

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