Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism plans to create 60 000 jobs
The Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) said the Medium Term Development Plan's job creation target is 60 000 new and sustainable jobs per annum, and a reduced unemployment rate of 25% by 2030.
In May, Stats SA released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2025. The report states that about 43 000 Mpumalanga residents lost their jobs in the first three months of this year. It also shows that the country's total number of unemployed youth (15 to 34 years) increased by 151 000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth recorded a decrease of 153 000 to 5.7 million. As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024, to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025. Currently, youth unemployment in Mpumalanga is at 46.4%, one of the highest in the country.
ALSO READ: 43 000 Mpumalanga residents lose jobs in first quarter of 2025
Silence Mhlaba of the DEDT said it should be noted that Mpumalanga also recorded job losses in both the first and second quarters of 2024, but recovered very well in the last six months of the year with net job gains of more than 62 000.
'It is important to put this in perspective, because the first quarter is normally exposed to several challenges such as seasonal factors and new entrants to the labour market. This is especially people who completed their secondary or tertiary qualifications. This results in some job losses and an increase in the unemployment rate.'
He said the provincial government, through DEDT and its entities, will continue with its catalytic economic projects and plans to stimulate the economy and contribute to the much needed jobs.
'All our economic plans should promote inclusive economic growth and job creation, which will have a positive impact on Mpumalanga's the high poverty and inequality rates.'
ALSO READ: Nzimande calls for investment in research and development during G20 meeting in Mbombela
Mhlaba said addressing the high youth unemployment remains a top priority of government and business.
'We will continue to assist our young people to have the right qualifications and skills, in line with the province's economic needs.'
He said almost 28% of the employed in Mpumalanga are people in the informal economy. Mhlaba said the DEDT has developed a provincial informal sector policy and is busy finalising it for implementation.
'Job creation is a co-responsibility between the public and private sectors. Infrastructure investment, for example, is crucial to stimulate the economy and create jobs on a large scale,' Mhlaba said.
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Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the country is projected to produce over 1 million AI professionals by 2026 through: Complete overhaul of technical education at the Indian Institutes of Technology According to a report by Gartner, the year 2025 will see 2 million new jobs generated by AI and Machine learning in India A joint study conducted by Microsoft and the Internet and Mobile Association of India revealed that India's AI market is expected to witness a growth of 20% over the next five years, the second fastest rate globally behind only China. The 'FutureSkills Prime' platform to reskill over 50% of the Indian professional workforce annually. 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While India surges ahead despite its challenges, we face painful contradictions as articulated by various experts and academics: Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) is embroiled in SIU investigations, with the current and former board chairs embroiled in various scandals, while seemingly those deployed to lead this SETA are not appropriately qualified to lead South Africa's AI Race. Our universities produce fewer AI and tech graduates annually than industry demand. A 2024 information and communication technology (ICT) skills survey reveals a shortfall of around 77 000 high-value digital jobs in South Africa, with an additional 300 000 technology positions being outsourced abroad. Despite having 24 public higher education institutions, South Africa's education system is struggling to keep up with the demands of an expanding technology ecosystem. African Business Quarterly, Tania Griffin 2024. South Africa's ICT skills gap is further exacerbated by 'skills recycling' and the shortage of teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa's (IITPSA's) ICT Skills Survey 2024. The SETA deployment system also exacerbates our crisis. Of course, all political parties practice Cadre Deployment. The ANC, which is leading the GNU, has produced enough capable, progressive experts, black, coloured, Indian and white. The ANC must ensure that its cadre deployment policy prioritises truly committed professionals and experts who understand and can implement the party's vision of 'People's Education for People's Power'. This Youth Month, we therefore implore the committee to: Declare AI/tech Education Emergency Convene a National Indaba on AI Readiness to assess our education system's capacity for 4IR and jobs of the future, and audit government support for tech research and R&D Declare 2026 as the year of Youth Skilling and partner with BRICS Plus countries like India, China and Saudi Arabia, including countries in the Global North and Advanced Asia Collaborate with Unions to ensure their members are reskilled to mitigate against a job blood bath. Honourable chair, India, with its own challenges similar to ours, proves that sustainable transformation is possible if there is Political will. Their youth unemployment rate has dropped 12 percentage points since launching these AI reforms across the board. As we celebrate Youth Month, we must remember the words of Isithwalandwe /Seaparankwe Oliver Tambo, who opined there follows: 'The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future.' We encourage the committee to remember these profound words by OR Tambo this Youth Month. Yours in urgent solidarity, Phapano Phasha, Executive Director, Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought. * The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Indepedent, IOL, or Independent Media.
