Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, has announced that more than 76,000 young South Africans secured job opportunities through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative during the final quarter of the financial year. Mhlauli shared the latest figures during a media briefing held in Pretoria on Monday, highlighting the government’s commitment to tackling the nation’s staggering youth unemployment crisis.
The initiative, now in its fifth year, was launched as a strategic intervention to address the high rate of youth unemployment, which continues to be one of the country’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate currently stands at a startling 46.1%, one of the highest globally. The majority of unemployed youth are classified as NEETs—not in employment, education, or training. This has created a generation at risk of long-term economic exclusion.
Between January and March 2025, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative enabled more than 76,000 young people to access various forms of job opportunities. These include internship placements, short-term public sector contracts, and a limited number of permanent positions.
“These jobs are not just temporary placements,” said Mhlauli. “They are quality jobs, defined by factors such as duration, fair income levels, and long-term growth potential. We are already seeing how employer practices are beginning to evolve to accommodate previously excluded youth.”
A Multi-Sector Approach to Job Access
Mhlauli emphasised that the job creation programme spans several key sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and community services. For example, thousands of young people were placed as classroom assistants and administrative interns in public schools, while others found work supporting local clinics and municipalities.
The programme also prioritises areas where skills can be developed on the job, thereby increasing the long-term employability of participants.
“We are not only filling gaps in public services,” Mhlauli noted. “We are actively building capacity among our youth, which benefits both the individuals and the broader economy in the long run.”
While the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative is showing measurable success, South Africa’s broader job market remains under pressure. Despite the 76,000 placements achieved during the quarter, the overall youth unemployment rate increased during the same period.
Economic analysts point to sluggish economic growth, structural challenges, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as contributing factors. The trade and construction sectors—once engines of low- to semi-skilled employment—have also shown signs of contraction, exacerbating the job shortage.
Nevertheless, Mhlauli said the initiative provides a crucial buffer for many young people and offers a proven framework for scaling job creation efforts.
According to Mhlauli, the Presidency aims to expand the programme further in the upcoming fiscal year, with new funding allocated to reach additional young job seekers. This will include increased collaboration with the private sector and non-profit organisations to ensure that more sustainable and meaningful job opportunities are created.
“Our focus now is on increasing the quality and quantity of these jobs,” she said. “We’re also looking at improving monitoring systems to track long-term outcomes, such as whether participants secure full-time employment or start their own businesses after their contracts end.”
The Deputy Minister stressed that job creation remains one of the top priorities of the current administration and invited other stakeholders—private companies, local government, and civil society—to play an active role.
Some programme beneficiaries have already shared how their job placements have changed their lives. One young woman from Limpopo, who worked as an early childhood development assistant, said her contract helped her gain experience and confidence that led to a scholarship opportunity.
Another youth from Gauteng stated, “Before this programme, I had never had a job. Now I’ve built skills, developed discipline, and I’m hopeful about my future.”
Although the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative offers critical short-term relief, long-term job market reform is essential for lasting impact. Mhlauli acknowledged that true transformation will require more than public sector internships.
“We must address systemic barriers to employment, improve access to quality education and training, and support entrepreneurship,” she said. “Only then will we be able to lower the youth unemployment rate in a meaningful and lasting way.”
Source- EWN
