Estimating the Effect of a Job Creation Programme on Female Labour Market Outcomes and Poverty in South Africa

This paper estimates the effect of a job creation programme on female labour market outcomes and poverty in South Africa, using datasets from the 2018 nationally representative General Household Survey (GHS). The paper employs propensity score matching techniques to balance pertinent pre-intervention characteristics between the treated and untreated groups, and compare employment outcomes and poverty status of adult females who participated in a job creation programme with those who did not participate. The key preliminary findings suggest that adult females who participated in the job creation programme are more likely to get an employment and work in the formal sector of the economy. However, participation does not decrease the likelihood of being poor, though participants are more likely to be ‘happier’ after the intervention. Thus, this study concludes that while a job creation intervention could be an effective tool for improving females’ employment rates and transition to decent jobs, strengthening existing multi-sectoral policy interventions might prove beneficial to further reduce poverty among women.