In the Western Cape, a demographic shift is underway as the youth constitute nearly half of the population, while the number of elderly residents aged 60 and above continues to rise, signalling an emerging trend of an ageing society amidst declining fertility rates, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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These are some of the findings contained in the 2024 Provincial Economic Review and Outlook (Pero) tabled by Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman in the legislature yesterday.
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According to IOL, the annual publication informs policymakers and municipalities in the Western Cape about socio-economic trends affecting policy, planning, and budgeting.
Baartman noted that weak logistical networks and declining public transport systems hinder the province’s economic potential, with railway transport suffering from under-investment and vandalism.
With this in mind, The Port of Cape Town deteriorated ever further in 2023, to the worst performing port in the world, according to the global Container Port Performance Index.
However, she highlighted that the tourism sector has largely recovered from Covid-19 restrictions.
In the second quarter of 2024, the province’s unemployment rate was 22.2%, with youth unemployment at 31.2% compared to the national average of 46.6%.
Employment in trade, manufacturing, and agriculture declined, while informal jobs, especially in private households, grew by 45.9% from 2019 to 2024.
From 2015 to 2024, the Western Cape’s population increased by 19.6%, with an expected growth of 1.196 million people over the next decade.
‘The low fertility rate can be attributed to the rising costs of childcare; individuals moving to urban areas and gaining better access to social services; better access to contraceptive methods; and changing societal norms around family structures,’ Baartman said.
Lower fertility rates in the Western Cape are primarily driven by higher education levels among women, leading to delayed parenthood as they pursue economic opportunities.
Over the past five years, learner retention has improved, with primary school retention rising from 86% in 2019 to 93% in 2023, and high school retention increasing from 65% to 71% during the same period.
However, the province faces challenges in healthcare, particularly a shortage of professionals, especially nurses.
Migration to the province has worsened housing challenges, with registered housing demand rising by 83.2% from 2015 to 2024.
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