Identifying and Exploiting Economic Opportunities : The Case of Unemployed Women in Khayelitsha Township, Cape Town

Unemployment is a macroeconomic problem that affects women more than men. Improving self-employment prospects and income generation among women is a significant socio-economic development consideration. The aim of the study is to explore what economic opportunities are sought by unemployed women in Khayelitsha and to determine the challenges encountered by the women from exploiting these opportunities. The study focused on unemployed women in Khayelitsha township in the Western Cape Province. The study employed a quantitative survey design and a questionnaire to collect data. Sample elements were selected using snowball sampling method. The significant findings of the study are that unemployed women have relatively low levels of education, training, and are not aware of support programmes, although they are interested in starting a business. They, however, possess an understanding of potential business opportunities, which they might be able to exploit. Unfortunately, they face challenges in terms of access to finance and business skills.