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Language and Labour in South Africa: A new approach for a new South Africa

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  • Katy Cornwell

Abstract

This paper considers the role of language in labour earnings in South Africa over the period 1996 to 1998. Our pooled cross-section comprises of over 160,000 working age adults, and the analysis considers the decision to participate in the labour force, employment prospects and labour earnings. Models include variables for individual mother tongue in addition to population group. After conditioning on a number of socio-economic and demographic factors, we find that having English as one's mother tongue is one of the pivotal determinants of labour earnings. These results are robust across two models of sample selection. Such findings shed light on the economic consequences of South Africa's national policy of linguistic heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Katy Cornwell, 2006. "Language and Labour in South Africa: A new approach for a new South Africa," Monash Econometrics and Business Statistics Working Papers 5/06, Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.
    • Handle: RePEc:msh:ebswps:2006-5
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    File URL: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/ebs/pubs/wpapers/2006/wp5-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz, 2018. "English Language Proficiency and the Economic Progress of Immigrants," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Francisco L Rivera-Batiz (ed.), International and Interregional Migration Theory and Evidence, chapter 11, pages 165-173, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    7. Gilles Grenier, 1984. "The Effects of Language Characteristics on the Wages of Hispanic-American Males," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 19(1), pages 35-52.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Deumert & Nkululeko Mabandla, 2009. "I-Dollar EYI One! -Ethnolinguistic Fractionalisation, Communication Networks and Economic Participation-Lessons from Cape Town, South Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 412-440.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment; Income; South Africa; Language Policy; Race.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J19 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Other
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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