YOUTH FOCUS BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Youth Employment Offering an opportunity to transform South Africa’s economic landscape
S
outh Africa faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. Not only does this untapped workforce have the potential to drive economic recovery after the Coronavirus pandemic and global economic downturn, but it also has the potential to create a real difference in the lives of many living in poverty. Youth as a major catalyst The persistently high youth unemployment rate has long been one of the most pressing socio-economic problems in South Africa. One of the challenges facing young work seekers is a lack of sufficient skills and previous work experience. The economy demands skilled and experienced work-seekers, which reduces the chances of unqualified or inexperienced young people finding jobs. Because of its importance, the National Development Plan
(NDP) places a focus on youth development, by singling this group out as the major catalysts in boosting economic growth and putting youth empowerment at the epicentre of development strategies.
Research has shown that youth employability programmes play an important role in increasing resilience in young work seekers “It is important to note that the scourge of unemployment is not a government problem alone. It is a societal problem. Youth development is therefore a matter of national importance. To ignore the plight of youth will be a major risk in the socioeconomic condition of our country”, former Minister of the Presidency for Planning,
30 | Public Sector Leaders | June 2021
Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe said. The NDP initially envisioned an unemployment rate of 14% for 2020, but the country’s unemployment rate now stands at its highest level since 2008. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate increased from 30,8% in quarter three of 2020 to 32,5% in quarter four of 2020. In the last quarter of 2020, South Africa had around 20.5 million youth (aged between 15 and 34), of which almost 42% were not in employment, education or training. This amount had increased by 1,7 percentage points compared to the same time in 2019. Government intervention This focus on youth development has seen the government launch several interventions to increase employment among the youth. In 2020, President Cyril
