The research study focuses on the lived experiences of seasonally unemployed parents
in the Gouda area in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Unemployment in South
Africa is a serious problem, as the unemployment rate of 25% (second quarter 2015), is very
high (Statistics RSA, 2015). Since unemployment is one of the indicators of lower levels of
well-being, this issue must be addressed. Seasonal unemployment is characteristic of rural
areas where unskilled people are reliant on agricultural activities for their income. Also, the
cyclical periods of unemployment have an immense impact on both parents and their children.