Studies have shown that the experience and consequences of unemployment affect people
differently depending on, for example, age and gender. The purpose of the present study was to
identify factors that contribute to unemployment among young women aged 20-35 in Mahalapye
village, investigate the effects of being unemployed, determine sources of support available to
unemployed young women, and identify the gaps in state assistance in this regard. The study
utilized a survey research method and adopted a descriptive research design. Cluster sampling was
used with the sample size being one hundred (100) unemployed young women in Mahalapye. A
face-to-face questionnaire method was adopted to collect data and the study was cross sectional.
Since the research was quantitative the Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyse
data. The results showed that unemployment among young women in Mahalapye is a problem and
young women are seriously affected by being unemployed. The study also revealed that high
poverty levels result from unemployment and that this is linked to young women becoming
engaged in criminal activities. A number of programmes have been put in place by government
and other stakeholders to curb unemployment but the study indicated that a majority of the
respondents have not benefited from these programmes. Low coverage, limited information about
programmes, complicated help seeking processes, and lack of resources were identified as gaps in
the provision of these programmes. Further research is needed to describe and elucidate in greater
detail the effects of unemployment on young women of different ages and in different contexts.