logo
How the Logistics Industry Is Unlocking Youth Employment Opportunities in South Africa

How the Logistics Industry Is Unlocking Youth Employment Opportunities in South Africa

With South Africa's youth unemployment rate sitting at a staggering 62.4%, finding sustainable job opportunities for young people has become an urgent national priority. While many sectors are stagnating, logistics is booming – fueled by the rise of e-commerce, digital innovation and global trade – creating a new wave of career paths.
'From supply chain analytics and IT systems integration to customer experience and compliance, logistics is evolving into a dynamic, tech-enabled industry that offers diverse professional avenues for South Africa's youth,' said Gregory Saffy, managing director for Sub-Saharan African Operations at FedEx.
While traditional roles like drivers, packers and sorters will always be essential, they are increasingly supported by technology-driven processes. This shift creates additional opportunities for young people looking for more technology focused roles.
'Logistics isn't what it used to be,' said Saffy. 'The real competitive advantage now lies in digital capability, especially in areas like data analytics and systems thinking. We're seeing more engineers and analysts in the business than ever before, guiding operations and enabling automation at scale.'
Beyond data analytics and IT roles, compliance and customs clearance are also emerging as key growth areas for job creation. Saffy highlights the development of a formalised customs qualification as a major step forward for the industry.
'We're seeing progress in the creation of a national customs clearance certification that will give individuals a recognised qualification, including those with practical experience but no matric pass,' said Saffy. 'This will create a clear career path and raise the overall standard of compliance across the industry.'
FedEx is already enrolling its customs clerks into newly developed courses in freight forwarding and customs compliance. In addition to formalising technical knowledge, these programmes also focus on future-ready skills like digital literacy, data analysis and critical thinking.
For young people without access to formal education, FedEx offers a clear entry point through its Yes Learnerships. 'Our 12-month programme combines training, mentoring and practical work experience,' said Saffy. 'Since 2019, we've onboarded more than 150 unemployed youth through YES, with more than 60 going on to become permanent employees. It's a powerful model for bridging the gap between education and employment.'
In parallel, FedEx runs a dedicated learnership programme for youth living with disabilities, offering an NQF Level 4 certificate in business administration. This includes coaching, blended learning and real-world operational experience – helping to build inclusive, work-ready skills pipelines.
FedEx commitment to building inclusive talent pipelines is a powerful example of how private sector investment in skills development can help unlock opportunities and start turning the tide on youth unemployment.
'Logistics is a gateway to global trade,' said Saffy. 'It's no longer just about moving parcels; it's about managing complexity in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment. With the right support and training, South Africa's youth can thrive in this space.'
Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.
Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from FedEx
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Lutnick: ‘plenty of horse-trading left to do' with EU on trade deal
Lutnick: ‘plenty of horse-trading left to do' with EU on trade deal

The Hill

time20 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Lutnick: ‘plenty of horse-trading left to do' with EU on trade deal

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said during a recent interview that there is still 'plenty of horse-trading left to do' when it comes to certain aspects of the trade framework between the U.S. and the European Union (EU). 'And do I expect to continue to be talking to the European Commission's trade people? Yeah, they called me this morning to talk about, what are other things to talk about, digital services, taxes and the attack on our tech companies. That is going to be on the table. It wasn't on the table today,' Lutnick said during his Tuesday appearance on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'There are other things that they would like, like steel and aluminum that were not included in this deal, that will be on the table. There's plenty of horse-trading still to do, but the fundamentals of their $20 trillion economy are set. We sell to them without a tariff. They sell to us for 15 percent, but they protect themselves on autos, they protect themselves on pharma. They protect themselves on semiconductors.' President Trump and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a trade deal over the weekend, with most EU goods being hit with a 15 percent tariff. Trump said the EU will buy $750 billion in American energy and the EU agreed to invest $600 billion into the U.S. Previously, Trump threatened to impose a 30 percent tariff on EU goods. The U.S.-EU trade pact was criticized by France as an act of 'submission' by the EU. Lutnick said 'protections' on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors were 'fundamental' for the European Commission and argued that 'anybody who picks on them is going to learn over the next two weeks why the people who did that deal were really smart to get the deal done with Donald Trump.'

Top 5 African countries that produced the most oil in June 2025
Top 5 African countries that produced the most oil in June 2025

Business Insider

timean hour ago

  • Business Insider

Top 5 African countries that produced the most oil in June 2025

Oil production is still a major source of income and a substantial contributor to the GDP of many African countries, making it a reliable resource. However, this resource's production usually varies from month to month, and June has been no exception. Oil remains a vital contributor to GDP for numerous African nations. June witnessed a notable rise in OPEC Reference Basket and front-month contract prices. Global economic growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026 remain consistent with previous predictions. In June, the average value of the OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) was $69.73/b, up $6.11 month over month (m-o-m). The ICE Brent front-month contract had a monthly gain of $5.79 to an average of $69.80/b, while the NYMEX WTI front-month contract saw a monthly increase of $6.39 to an average of $67.33/b. As per the latest OPEC Monthly report for July, the global economy maintained its steady growth track, aided by the strong growth observed in 1H25. Global economic growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026 remain unchanged at 2.9% and 3.1%, respectively. Forecasts for US economic growth in 2025 and 2026 continue at 1.7% and 2.1%, respectively. Japan's economic forecasts remain unchanged at 1.0% for 2025 and 0.9% for 2026. Global oil demand growth is expected to stay at 1.3 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2025, unchanged from last month's prediction. 'West African crude differentials also strengthened in June on renewed demand from European and Asian buyers for July-loading cargoes. The high value of similar grades in other regions also helped to lend support to West African grades,' the report states. Additionally, the report showed that China's overall exports to the US decreased by 28% during the last two months, but this was more than made up for by a rise in shipments to other continents, such as Africa, Latin America, the ASEAN area, and the EU. With that said, here are the African countries with the highest oil production last month in thousand barrels per day (tb/d), according to OPEC's latest report. Top 5 African countries that produced the most oil in June 2025 Rank Country DoC crude oil production based on secondary sources, tb/d Change between June and May 1. Nigeria 1,547 19 2. Libya 1,280 -24 3. Algeria 927 7 4. Congo 256 0 5. Gabon 234 2

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store