If there is one thing that stands out about the current economic circumstances in South Africa, it is that the youth are getting the short end of the stick. Youth unemployment rates are at an all-time high. Moreover, the fact that young people are progressively feeling discouraged from participating in the labour market entirely leaves the picture looking rather bleak overall.

Despite how disheartening this all may appear, there is a silver lining to this seemingly dark cloud.

The Statistics

Stats SA recently published employment statistics for the first quarter of 2022. In their summarised report, they point out that 63,9% of people aged between fifteen and twenty-four are unemployed. The unemployment rate for those aged between twenty-five and thirty-four stands at 42,1%.

Both unemployment rates are higher than the national average. This means that the youth of South Africa are the most disadvantaged when it comes to accessing and securing job opportunities.

When you consider that more than half of the population that are of working age fall between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four, you start to see that we have a major problem on our hands. Additionally, there is a growing number of young people who are disengaged from the South African labour market.

This category of youth is regarded as NEET (not in employment, education, or training). These NEET youngsters seem to be discouraged as they simply can’t find jobs or careers that suit their needs, geographical locations, or skillsets.

These statistics paint a worrying picture for the future of the youth in this country. Fortunately, however, there are ways to avoid this gloomy outlook.

A Silver Lining: Potential Relief to Youth Unemployment

There are usually three major causes listed when it comes to discussions surrounding why young people can’t find employment opportunities. These are:

  • A lack of work experience.
  • A lack of education or training.
  • Not looking for jobs on the right channels.

What should give you hope, however, is that there are solutions to all three of these problems.

In terms of finding work experience, our government has implemented programmes that are designed to assist young people in finding suitable work opportunities.

A prime example is the YES Programme – which you can read up on by clicking here.

With regards to education and training, it is important to keep in mind that education and training does not require the traditional route of studying full-time at a university or college. Currently, education is becoming more and more accessible.

Take a distance learning institution like Oxbridge Academy for example. Through us, you can study short courses, obtain a National Qualification, or upskill yourself for a specific position – all without having to spend time travelling to class.

You can therefore work and study at the same time, allowing you to gain valuable work experience while receiving the training you need. This, in turn, drastically increases your chances of not becoming a part of these youth unemployment statistics.

ARE YOU A YOUNG PERSON STRUGGLING TO FIND EMPLOYMENT?

Take the first step towards finding the perfect job by getting an education through us.