Bold action urgently needed to tackle youth unemployment crisis

According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q1 2025) released by Stats SA on May 13, youth unemployment has surged to a staggering 32.9%, a 1% increase from the previous quarter.

For millions of young South Africans, the promise of democracy has failed to deliver meaningful opportunity.
Instead, they remain locked out of the economy due to deep systemic barriers, including poor access to education and training, prohibitive job-seeking costs, and a lack of connection to viable employment pathways.

“This isn’t just a crisis. It’s reaching a breaking point,” said Jake Willis, CEO of Lulaway Holdings. “If we don’t act now, the long-term social and economic consequences will be devastating.”
He offers five urgent shifts to tackle youth unemployment:

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• Unlock the power of public-private partnerships (PPPs)
Co-ordinated action between government and business is essential to scaling effective job creation initiatives. “We have seen the impact of collaboration. When sectors work together, real opportunities are created and sustained,” Willis said.

• Break down the barriers to entry
For many young people, the cost of simply searching for a job is prohibitive. Transport to interviews, printing CVs, and paying for airtime can quickly become overwhelming. We need to bridge this gap by using technology more effectively. Employers can conduct interviews via WhatsApp, use virtual platforms, and run mobile recruitment drives to reach candidates where they are. AI-driven screening tools can simplify the process and reduce the burden on applicants. These low-cost, tech-enabled solutions make it easier for more young people to access real job opportunities.

• Rethink training to unlock jobs
It’s not enough to align education with the economy. We need to rethink how young people access meaningful work. For most unemployed youth, long and expensive training programmes are simply out of reach. What’s needed are shorter, demand-driven courses that directly connect to job opportunities. These programmes must be practical, focused, and designed for those who haven’t completed formal education.

• Support youth mobility
Many young people migrate to cities in search of work, but without proper support, they often fall through the cracks. Relocation assistance, transport subsidies, skills training, and transitional housing programmes are vital to help youth integrate more effectively into urban economies.

• Fuel youth entrepreneurship
With job creation lagging behind population growth, entrepreneurship must be recognised as a critical driver of economic transformation. “We need to stop romanticising youth entrepreneurship and start resourcing it,” said Willis.

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