Private sector partnerships key to unlocking youth employment
Thabo Moloi of the Youth Employment Service says the solution lies in stronger collaboration between business, government, and higher education — with initiatives like Diageo’s Learning for Life programme leading the way.
In a country where job opportunities are increasingly scarce, especially for young graduates eager to apply their studies, the struggle for meaningful employment remains a pressing issue.
University of Johannesburg (UJ) alumnus and head of business development at Youth Employment Services (Yes), Thabo Moloi, shared insights into the state of youth employment in the country at the Diageo Learning for Life 2025/2026 programme, held at UJ’s School of Tourism and Hospitality building on October 2.
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Moloi acknowledged the difficulty many youth face in securing work, tying the challenge directly to the broader performance of the economy. “I think it correlates with how the economy performs. So, the higher we can grow the economy, the more we can get job creation going,” he said.
He stressed that job creation must be driven by the private sector, highlighting the importance of partnerships between business and government. “For us, what’s important is that it’s private sector-led, it is about how we partner with that sector, understanding which markets and sectors are labour-intensive and need the support of government. As South Africa starts really churning its wheels and the infrastructure development accelerates, a lot more job creation opportunities and prospects will be created for young people,” Moloi explained.
Also read: Growth in employment opportunities within the transport sector
Turning his attention to the Diageo Learning for Life programme, Moloi expressed enthusiasm about its role in empowering youth through practical skills development. “It’s very exciting. Diageo is a multinational global organisation that invests significantly in these programmes. The hospitality industry is strategically important to the country, and the more young people we’re able to get into these spaces, the more momentum it creates,” he said.
He believes initiatives like this are crucial to South Africa’s broader socio-economic growth. “When business starts integrating how they operate into some of the socio-economic levers we need to pull to grow the economy, the upside prospects are just exponential,” he added, noting that the programme is ‘geared for strength’ and poised to expand.
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