Career expo offers a great deal of knowledge to youth
Head of the Department for Roads and Transport estimated that youth unemployment could reach 36% by 2026.
Youth in South Africa continue to be disadvantaged in the labour market with their unemployment rate higher than the national average.
According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, for the first quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate was 63.9% for those aged 15 to 24 and 42.1% for those aged 25 to 34 years, while the current official national rate stood at 34.5%.
Although the graduate unemployment rate remains relatively low in South Africa compared to those of other educational levels, unemployment among the youth continues to be a burden, irrespective of educational attainment.
As the country celebrates Youth Month, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport in collaboration with various transport stakeholders and industry agencies hosted a Transport Youth Month Career Expo at Gallagher Convention Centre on June 15.
Johannesburg Roads Agency, Road Traffic Infringement Agency, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Gautrain Management Agency, and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department were among the stakeholders.
According to roads department, the career expo is an initiative in support of the province’s Youth Month festivities, providing opportunities to expose young people to transportation-related careers. It reaffirms the government’s commitment to upskilling and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in the economy.
Darion Barclay, head of the Department for Roads and Transportation, said for youth to find employment and reach self-sufficiency, they must engage in employment, training and education.
“This sketch of unemployment is not unique to South Africa, where it is estimated that youth unemployment could reach 36% by 2026.
“I encourage youth to take advantage of Tshepo 1 Million, a Gauteng youth empowerment programme designed to assist people across every academic level, from Grade 10 up to graduates, for learning and earning opportunities,” said Barclay.
Although there were several reasons for youth unemployment such as population growth, inexperience, incorrect methods of job searching, and a lack of career guidance in schools, the percentage of unemployed first-time job seekers in South Africa was unacceptably high, according to Barclay.
Moloto Kwena, one of many youths present at the event, commented on the importance of such expos rather than youth being taught about the 1976 Soweto uprising every year.
“These expos offer a great deal of knowledge, and being a mechanical engineering student, I was able to learn a lot about automotive, and now perhaps use what I have learned as a side hustle,” Kwena said.
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