Founded in 1975, the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) is based in the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town.
What We Do
SALDRU carries out applied empirical research and capacity building with an emphasis on poverty and inequality, labour markets, human capital and social policy. We strive for academic excellence and policy relevance.
SALDRU has always implemented a range of innovative surveys in South Africa. Building on these large data gathering projects, we conduct a range of training and capacity building activities in the use of survey data to analyse social well-being.
openSALDRU is our publications repository. It catalogues all of SALDRU’s research, including more than 250 working papers, conference proceedings, policy briefs and metadata and links for journal articles.
Our Mission
Challenging inequalities through policy relevant academic research.
Our Research Agenda
Understanding the dynamics amongst different groups in the distribution, focusing on chronic and transitory poverty, the vulnerable middle class, and income and wealth at the top end.
Understanding what drives intergenerational inequalities in South Africa. Our research is located at the intersection of unemployment, labour markets, human capital and social policy.
Focus areas include all vulnerable groups. This includes the susceptibility of children to socio-economic disadvantage as well as a special focus on the disparity of opportunities facing youth in South Africa.
Our Values
– Objectivity
– Rigour
– Relevance
– Excellence
– Integrity
– Honesty
– Transparency
– Collegiality