The challenge of youth unemployment is easily one of the more serious issues confronting us as a country. There seems to be a growing, but in my view misguided belief that the promotion of youth entrepreneurship is the ‘silver bullet’ to this problem.
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The creation of small businesses headed by the youth should be a component in the plan of attacking the issue. The reality is that creating and promoting small businesses in the mainstream economy is a daunting task that meets with limited success, so the challenge is magnified when dealing with youth with limited capacity and experience. As with the mainstream economy, not all youth will be endowed with the critical skills that are needed to be a successful entrepreneur: drive, tenacity and passion.
There are, in my view, a number of other approaches that should be considered:
Upskilling: A large number of youth are sitting with qualifications that are inappropriate or in surplus in the job market. Encouraging them to enhance their existing qualifications by, for example, tackling a module or two that add skills that are in demand, will greatly improve their employability. There are also a significant number of people who for various reasons were unable to complete all the required of modules to qualify, and often just a module or two separate them from graduating with skills in demand in the workplace. These people are deserving of support.
Internships: More businesses must be encouraged to offer internships to the youth. The impact of experience on a young person’s chances of securing permanent employment is quite staggering. It is incumbent though on potential interns to recognise this: there have been many disheartening reports of internships being turned down based on the quantum of the stipend offered.
Linkages: For those youth already in business, providing support that leads to their sustainability and growth is a sure-fire way to promote youth employment. Young businesspeople are more likely to employ their contemporaries…one of the most effective means of support is creating linkages between established and new businesses. Again, this should not be the domain of big business – all players in the economy must do their part.
Vocational training: The minister of higher education has just announced a renewed focus on the promotion of trade-based skills at FET institutions. This must be welcomed. Youth must be encouraged to explore training opportunities outside the ‘white collar’ sector. A solid foundation in artisan-based skills is often the pathway to self-employment as well – a definite win-win for the economy.
Making a meaningful difference to the scourge of youth unemployment that besets our economy will only happen if a concerted, multi-pronged and resourced approach is adopted.
After matriculating, I studied Economics in the UK. Upon my return, I joined the family construction business as MD for 10 years.
I subsequently joined my sister in our furniture manufacturing business as director for quality assurance and operations. I was responsible for all quallity aspects of our product, and led the project to us achieving an ISO 9000 quality accreditation. As an export focused business, this was important for our international competitiveness.
I have an abiding interest in quality management and productivity improvement, particularly in manufacturing.
More recently, I have focused a lot of my time on giving back to community by way of mentorship of small businesses and sitting on the executive of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce. I also sit on the Board of the Ugu South Coast Development Agency.
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