The use of mobile technologies to address unemployment in the Western Cape

Abstract

Unemployment is a serious concern facing the South African government. Ongoing efforts are being made to decrease the unemployment rate. Many of the unemployed population do not necessarily have access to the required means to effectively find job opportunities that meet their requirements. Providing people with an easily accessible means has a high possibility of aiding the unemployed population in their search for work prospects. Mobile technology, particularly mobile phones with internet access, has undergone vast improvements over the past years. These improvements have provided users with many conveniences in the palm of their hand. These conveniences include mobile services, which have become very affordable and a viable option for many South Africans. Mobile technologies have been widely accepted by all communities in South Africa. This medium provides opportunities to aid the different communities of South Africa. Offering a service that provides users with access to job opportunities directly from their mobile phones, would not only be a convenience to most South Africans, but could potentially be the only means for job searching for many of the poverty stricken communities. User feedback was obtained by conducting interviews with the mobile service users. The findings show that users found the portability, convenience and on-the-go nature of the mobile service as a major advantage. Mobile phones are currently used effectively as a tool to empower communities in South Africa; and this job opportunity mobile service proved to be another example of how mobile phones can aid citizens to further empower their lives and community.