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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Presidential Youth Employment Initiative delivers 76,000 job opportunities in Q4 — but it's a drop in the ocean
Despite the creation of some jobs, youth unemployment in South Africa — now at 46.1% — remains a national crisis. The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) continues to deliver meaningful change in the lives of South Africa's young people, according to the deputy minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli. At a media briefing on Monday, Mhlauli highlighted the initiative's progress during the fourth quarter (Q4) of the 2024/2025 financial year, marking five years of sustained effort to combat South Africa's unrelenting youth unemployment crisis. During Q4 alone, 76,569 job opportunities were accessed by young people in South Africa, including 60,444 through and 16,125 via the Employment Services of South Africa. Additional highlights included: 15,137 private sector placements via the Youth Employment Service; 5,504 TVET graduates placed through the Department of Higher Education and Training; 43,000+ young entrepreneurs supported by the National Youth Development Agency and the Department of Small Business Development; and 2,048 young people recruited under Phase 3 of the Revitalised National Youth Service. The innovative Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund also saw progress, with more than 5,400 young people enrolled and more than 3,000 placed into quality, sustainable jobs, with R70-million disbursed to 11 implementing partners to date. Bleak employment stats Three weeks ago, Stats SA released its Q1 Labour Force Survey for 2025, which revealed that the economy had shed 300,000 jobs and youth unemployment had increased to 46.1%. While the 76,000 job opportunities may alleviate the joblessness crisis for a small number of South Africans, it's not enough to address the crisis. 'The numbers are not as great as we want them to be, but we are seeing that we are making a difference,' said Mhlauli. The deputy minister said the recently released labour force survey showed that 132,000 new jobs were created in Q4 of 2024, and the opportunities created by the PYEI within that period contributed to the figure. 'Of course the job growth within the last quarter hasn't been as high as the previous quarter where we had almost 300,000 new jobs, but of course, in the 132,000 jobs that we are reporting in the last quarter we can see a direct correlation between what we are doing through trying to find employment opportunities for young people and the official unemployment rate of young people,' she said. Some young people still locked out In his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), which on Monday saw 200,000 young people return to school, this time as teacher assistants. The BEEI, which was on hold for a year because the government failed to release the funding from the UIF Labour Activation Programme, aims to give young people work experience so they are more attractive to employers. In May, Daily Maverick reported that many unemployed young people were vying for limited employment opportunities, resulting in an overwhelming volume of applications for the very small number of opportunities offered by the nation's job placement programmes and initiatives. Omphemetse Setino (24) is one of the millions of young people who applied for the latest phase of the BEEI and didn't get a job, but still hopes to find employment. 'I applied in April and I was looking forward to actually getting a job, but I have not heard back from them, and all I feel now is disappointment,' said Setino. Setino told Daily Maverick that a position in the BEEI would have allowed him to help his mother support their household. 'I know that you can't get every job you apply for, but it's been four years since I finished matric and I am still unemployed,' he said. While he commended the government for creating pathways for employment for young people, he said more could be done. 'The only way you hear about these programmes is through word of mouth. I know so many people who are shocked when they hear the government is running a jobs programme, because the government is not communicating directly with us. They can go to malls for a political rally, but they can't go to schools to tell us which programmes are running and where. It's very disheartening,' he said. Mhlauli said the Presidency was working on addressing how it communicates about programmes in the initiative, including visiting stakeholders in their communities to raise awareness. Economic growth While Mhlauli acknowledged that the unemployment rate overshadowed the successes of the PYEI, Tshego Walker, the PYEI programme manager, said the government had to focus on economic growth because 'economic growth translates to jobs'. Walker said the department was working on a strategy to foster meaningful job creation for young people in light of the bleak unemployment stats. 'Our sister programme, Operation Vulindlela, is implementing structural reforms that will grow the economy. It is important that, as the economy grows, young people benefit from the jobs that are created, but we have seen in the last 16 years that this hasn't been the case. The relationship between economic growth and youth employment is a weak one. We have to make sure that we specifically focus on targeting young people and make sure that they benefit from that growth,' said Walker. Operation Vulindlela, launched in the aftermath of the economic toll the Covid-19 pandemic had on SA, aims to reform the nation's economy to drive growth. In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the second phase of the government-led initiative, which will focus on addressing spatial inequality to bring economic opportunities to townships and rural areas and develop a Digital Transformation Roadmap, in addition to expanding on the sector-specific reforms implemented during Phase 1. Walker said the initiative was focusing on the following interventions to address challenges in job creation for young people: Inclusive hiring: The Presidency is aware of hiring practices in the private sector that don't favour young people. Through the PYEI, the Presidency plans to shift hiring practices so that young people can benefit from new job creation; Supporting sectors with growth barriers: The Presidency will focus on addressing barriers to growth in specific sectors that can create jobs for young people, like the tourism industry, where international arrivals have not recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic; and Supporting SMMEs: Given that the current labour market cannot create jobs for the one million new entrants every year to the labour force, the government will focus on supporting young entrepreneurs to create their own pathways into employment through a Youth Hustler Fund. Engaging discouraged work seekers The Q4 labour force survey revealed that approximately 1.9 million young South Africans were unemployed but had stopped actively looking for jobs because they had become discouraged about the prospect of finding employment. Walker said that by reaching young people where they live, the Revitalised National Youth Service (NYS) aimed to incentivise discouraged job seekers to re-enter the labour force. The Revitalised NYS is a paid community programme for young people. 'They don't pay for transport to town, and it's solving community needs. Currently, in Phase 4, we have 40,000 opportunities that are going to these young people,' said Walker. She said the Presidency aimed to make the NYS a catch-all for young people who weren't in training or employment, and it would function as an alternative pathway to getting this group of people engaged in the labour market. 'What we don't want is seeing young people sitting at a corner. That is precisely what we don't want and that is what we are trying to address through this programme,' said Mhlauli. DM
CBC
29-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Quebec cuts all funding to Montreal organization that helps young Anglos find work
A Montreal community organization that assists young Anglophones in their job search will no longer receive financial support from the Quebec government starting in June — a loss representing about a fifth of the group's total funding. Two of Youth Employment Service (YES)'s core programs — Youth on the Rise and Services d'aide à l'emploi — will end due to this funding gap. These two programs, one ending in March and the other in June, help young Anglophones secure their first job and provide personalized career counselling. YES' services are all offered free of charge. The group says it will maintain other services. Andrew Desrochers, a Montrealer who's been using the organization's services for over a month, says they've had a "great experience" and benefited from their counsellor's action plan, which holds them accountable for their progress. But when they found out the program they're involved in will be discontinued at the end of March, Desrochers admitted to feeling a "bit of fury," though they say they were not surprised. "It was absolutely not lost on me that an English language program is being cut by the provincial government," said Desrochers. "I don't think making those things harder for [Quebec's English-speaking population] endears anybody to the French language." In a statement, Quebec's Employment Ministry explained that the reductions stem from a $145 million cut in funding by the federal government. "The executive management of Services Québec de Montréal has decided to regroup services for young people in the Carrefours jeunesse-emploi, and it's important to mention that there will be no interruption of services," read the statement, highlighting that these groups offer bilingual services for youth. Desrochers argues that this move by Quebec does not represent an investment in the population, adding that reducing funding to programs that help individuals find employment increases the likelihood they will eventually require more social assistance. "You're going to have to pay out that money in social assistance, versus collecting it from people paying taxes because they have gainful employment," said Desrochers. "You're shooting yourself in the foot." 'Worst timing possible,' says employment counsellor YES employment counsellor Annalise Iten says she was "completely shocked" when she heard about the scale of the cuts, which impact the counselling program — a cornerstone of YES for over 20 years. Iten notes that many of her clients reached out to her after they heard the news, concerned about their well-being. Many of them, she adds, don't have family in the country or parents who are financially able to support them. She also works with recent graduates and individuals with higher education. "In many ways, we're a safe haven for our clients who come to us because they need the support," said Iten. "They don't feel comfortable necessarily going to other organizations who are bilingual where they might not be received in what they perceive as the same way." She believes the news comes at the "worst timing possible." Quebec recently estimated that up to 160,000 jobs could be jeopardized by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "It's very likely that we're going to see a huge increase of people going on [employment insurance] and social assistance," said Iten. Iten also worries that these cuts will saturate the health and social services sectors. "I believe that we are a preventative measure for our clients, our population, our English-speaking population," she said. Despite these challenges, the organization says it will continue to offer services and will rely more on private funding and donations. "We're still here, we're still there to support you," said Iten.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
YES and Mastercard partnership drives job creation for South Africa's youth
Mastercard is strengthening its dedication to tackling youth unemployment in South Africa by extending its partnership with the Youth Employment Service (YES)—a private-sector-driven initiative—for a third consecutive year. YES plays a crucial role in equipping young people with essential skills for the workplace, quality work experience, and career opportunities, preparing them for the evolving job market. Through this continued collaboration, Mastercard and YES are empowering the next generation of leaders and contributing to sustainable economic growth. With South Africa's official unemployment rate at 31.9% and youth unemployment at 44.6% in the third quarter of 2024, the need for sustainable employment solutions remains a national priority. Strategic initiatives like this partnership are essential in building a resilient workforce and fostering economic progress. Gabriel Swanepoel, Country Manager: Mastercard Southern Africa, said: "At Mastercard, we believe that empowering young talent is key to driving inclusive economic growth. Our continued collaboration with YES reflects our commitment to equipping South Africa's youth with the skills, experience, and opportunities they need to succeed in today's workforce. By investing in the next generation, we are not only shaping future leaders but also contributing to a more resilient and prosperous economy.' Empowering young talent As part of the 2024/2025 YES intake, Mastercard has welcomed 15 young professionals into its workplace, providing them with a year of hands-on experience, industry exposure, and critical upskilling opportunities. This initiative supports workforce readiness, economic participation, and long-term social impact. Ravi Naidoo, chief executive officer of YES, said: 'Empowering youth is the best endowment South Africa can make to ensure a more sustainable future. Young people have the potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and social progress. However, without access to skills and sustainable employment, this potential remains untapped. Our continued partnership with Mastercard reinforces our commitment to equipping young talent with valuable experience in the global payments industry." Through its continued collaboration with YES, Mastercard reaffirms its commitment to fostering sustainable employment solutions and equipping young South Africans with the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic job market. By investing in youth empowerment, Mastercard is not only shaping careers but also contributing to a more inclusive and resilient economy. As the programme progresses, this collaboration will continue to drive meaningful impact, unlocking opportunities that pave the way for long-term economic growth and social development.
