ARCeH Externship via Extern
“Economics postgraduate with expertise in quantitative research and policy analysis, ready to apply advanced analytical skills to real-world challenges.”
Portfolio of coursework and academic projects that demonstrate economic analysis, data work, and research developed during my master’s program.
University of the Western Cape · Oct 2023
Examined trends in female employment in South Africa's informal sector from 1995–2022 using national labour force survey data, profiling who these workers are and proposing policy responses.
“Economics postgraduate with expertise in quantitative research and policy analysis, ready to apply advanced analytical skills to real-world challenges.”
I am Michelle Mutongawafa, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in economics. I have limited formal work experience and am preparing to start my career, focusing on applying economic theory and quantitative methods from my studies.
Externships
Data Analytics, Health Outcomes Externship with ARCeH
ARCeH
Experience
Masters Thesis Researcher - Examining the State of the South African Labour Market Thirty Years Since the Economic Trans
University of the Western Cape, Department of Economics · 2024–2026
Associate Lecturer | Quantitative Literacy for Commerce
University of the Western Cape · Jan2025-Jun2025
Graduating Lecturing Assistant | Intermediate Econometrics & International Economics
University of the Western Cape · 2023-2024
Tutor | Microeconomics, Macroeconomics & Quantitative Skills
University of the Western Cape · 2020-2023
Student-Athlete Mentor
University of the Western Cape · 2021-2022
Honours Researcher - Investigating Female Informal Sector Activities in South Africa.
University of the Western Cape
Education
University of the Western Cape
Master of Commerce in Economics
University of the Western Cape
Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics
University of the Western Cape
Bachelor of Commerce in Law
Skills
University of the Western Cape · Oct 2023
Examined trends in female employment in South Africa's informal sector from 1995–2022 using national labour force survey data, profiling who these workers are and proposing policy responses.
Examined trends in female employment in South Africa's informal sector from 1995–2022 using national labour force survey data, profiling who these workers are and proposing policy responses.
Independently analysed four Stats SA labour survey waves (1995–2022) in Stata, tracking female informal-sector employment from a 46% peak (2000) to ~27% (2022) and profiling these workers by race, province, age, education, and earnings. And synthesized three labour theories into one framework and produced policy proposals grounded in evidence — all in a supervised 30-page Honours paper.
Completed Honours paper identifying the demographic/economic profile of female informal workers in SA and a declining post-2000 employment trend, with policy proposals (trade tenure, mobile finance, digital skills).