Youth Unemployment
latest news & developments
Designing the Bridge to Earning
Permanent private-sector jobs remain scarce, but public employment programmes are proving vital in bridging the gap for young South Africans seeking sustainable pathways to…
Business accused of being ‘absent’ in skills development programmes
Higher Education Deputy Minister Buti Manamela and union leaders have challenged the private sector to actively support skills development and open workplace doors to combat…
It's okay that not all will be millionaires by 30
In a digital culture driven by viral pranks and performative wealth, young South Africans face immense pressure to succeed by 30. We must redefine ambition, respect, and progress…
AgriSETA targets agricultural skills to tackle youth unemployment and food insecurity
AgriSETA CEO Fanny Phetla outlines how targeted agricultural education, digital farming skills and youth-focused business incubators can address South Africa's unemployment and…
Mandela Day should be measured by opportunities created, not minutes served
Every year on Nelson Mandela Day, South Africans are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes to acts of service in honour of Nelson Mandela's lifelong commitment to humanity. Across…
Life beyond a degree
South Africa's youth unemployment crisis is exacerbated by a growing disconnect between young people's preparedness for work and the skills the economy needs. This article…
Reconfiguring South Africa's Education System for Meaningful Participation in an AI-Driven World
South Africa's education system faces scrutiny for its inability to equip graduates with industry-aligned skills, contributing to youth unemployment. As AI and digital…
When survival becomes the business plan: how a 21-year-old designer is building a future beyond unemployment
The story of youth unemployment in South Africa is often told through percentages, economic forecasts and reports about a shrinking job market. But behind the figures are young…
Youth Day at 50: The new struggle is the fight for a future
Youth Day honours the young people who rose up in Soweto in 1976 — students who paid with their lives to resist an education system deliberately engineered to diminish them.…
Same fight, different adversary: From political oppression in 1976 to economic exclusion in 2026
South Africa commemorates 32 years of democracy, 50 years since the Soweto uprising, and 30 years since its progressive Constitution. Yet, despite political freedom, the nation's…
South Africa is failing the generation it claims to celebrate
While South Africa commemorates the youth of 1976 every June, millions of young people today face a stark reality of unemployment and economic exclusion. This article explores…
Meaning of June 16 lost
The June 16 anniversary, commemorating the Soweto Uprising, has lost its significance, becoming a mere formality rather than a period of reflection and recommitment to the ideals…
Eswatini’s oil reserve gamble
Eswatini has signed a $300 million agreement with Taiwan to build a massive strategic oil reserve but the project is raising difficult questions in a country battling deepening…
Ramaphosa calls for ‘real change’ as SA marks 32 years of democracy
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s democracy must be measured by its ability to deliver real, material improvements in people’s lives
SA marks 32 years of democracy amid deep inequality and joblessness
South Africa’s 32nd Freedom Day highlights both democratic gains and ongoing struggles with inequality, unemployment and poverty