Predictive Insights Youth Income Prediction Challenge
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Helping South Africa
R10 000 ZAR
Challenge completed ~2 years ago
Prediction
Job Opportunity
637 joined
257 active
Start
Jun 08, 23
Close
Oct 01, 23
Reveal
Oct 01, 23
Any more information about the `status` variable?
Data · 3 Jul 2023, 14:05 · 4
Hello, thanks for a fun competition. Can you tell us anything more about the `status` variable, for instance, does the survey contain a free-text entry here, or is it a multiple-choice question? It seems strange to me that in the training dataset, a majority of the 'wage-employed' individuals end up with a target value equal to zero one year later, while people the majority of those who report being 'self-employed' have a target value of one a year later. Thanks for any info!
Thanks for the question. This is the response to a question which is very similar to the 'standard' question Statistics South Africa asks when trying to ascertain labour market status.
The 'wage-employed' question is: "In the last week (Monday to Sunday), did you work for wage, salary, commission or any payment in kind (including paid domestic work), even if it was for only one hour?"
The 'self-employed question is: "In the last week (Monday to Sunday), did you run or do any kind of business, big or small, for yourself or with one or more partners, even if it was for only one hour?"
That's a great insight about the transitions and contrary to what I think the 'standard' narrative about youth employment is in South Africa. For a long-time many people (myself included) thought that getting a first job was the primary hurdle that a young person had to overcome on their employment journey. This, and other data, suggests that it is not only finding that first job, but KEEPING it that is important.
Ah, thank you for the information Neil - that's good to know, and I am surprised!
So amongst our sample, the salary employed would presumably fall into the 'status - other' category?
No. The 'salary employed' fall in the 'wage-employed category. Employment is classified into two groups. The first is 'wage employed' and is anyone who earns a wage or salary from someone else. The second is 'self-employed' and that is people who run their own business. This ranges from people doing services, like hair braiding or car washes, to selling goods, to making things and selling them.