In the media: "Watts happening to work? The labour market effects of loadshedding"
Expanded access to electricity has been a boon to development in many low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, but erratic supply has proved a major constraint to economic growth. Now, in the first study on the effects of load-shedding on employment, Tim Köhler and Prof. Haroon Bhorat of the DPRU find that prolonged and regular power outages are significantly and negatively associated with job retention, working hours, and earnings.
Their recently published research paper “Watts happening to work? The labour market effects of loadshedding” considers the labour market effects of ongoing power outages (loadshedding) in South Africa.
The research has also been disseminated via 3 blog/OpEd articles, published by:
- The Conversation on 29th May: https://theconversation.com/power-cuts-have-hit-south-africas-labour-market-hard-the-biggest-toll-has-been-on-jobs-new-research-230793
- SA-TIED in May: https://sa-tied.wider.unu.edu/article/watts-happening-to-work-the-labour-market-effects-of-south-africas-electricity-crisis-0
- Econ3X3 on 24th June: https://www.econ3x3.org/article/watts-happening-work-labour-market-effects-loadshedding
UCT also published a press release on the 30th May, titled: High levels of loadshedding are costly for SA’s labour market – report finds
Press/media clippings include:
- How power cuts have affected employment, BusinessLive - 3 June 2024
- How load shedding killed jobs and salaries in South Africa, BusinessTech - 2 June 2024
- Stage 4 power cuts destroyed jobs and salaries, MyBroadband - 2 June 2024
- Power cuts have hit SAs labour market hard…, Moneyweb - 2 June 2024
- Stage 4 power cuts destroyed jobs and salaries, The Conversation - 2 June 2024
- Load-shedding has hit labour market hard, particularly manufacturing sector, the Herald - 31 May 2024
- Power cuts have hit the SA labour market hard, threatening employment, the Sowetan - 31 May 2024
- Power cuts have hit South Africa’s labour market hard: the biggest toll has been on jobs — new research, TimesLive - 30 May 2024
As well as two radio interviews/podcasts:
- 4 June 2024: Hot Business: Expert: Impact of loadshedding on jobs
- 5 June 2024: "The Impact of Load Shedding on Labour Market Outcomes"; episode of “The Economics Minute” podcast; 7 May 2024.