The 16^th of June 2023 marked the 47^th anniversary since the Youth uprising of 1976 in Soweto, which centred youth activism in the struggle for equality, against repression. The tragedy which marked the day was a moment where the youth of South Africa asserted their desire to craft a worthwhile future, filled with opportunity and a prosperous future. Nearly half a century later, nearly three decades into a constitutional democracy, this desire, this hope, still remains elusive. 

In an article published the day after Workers Day this year, Independent Online, reports that: “Young people aged 15-24 and 25-34 are the most vulnerable in the South African labour market today, with the unemployment rate in these age groups reaching 61% and 39.9%, respectively, last year, according to Afrika Tikkun Services.”

Youth unemployment has been a perpetual concern in South Africa and its consistently described as a ticking time bomb by government, civil society, business and labour. However, why is it a malady we have not been able to remedy and what can be done to deal with youth unemployment?

Youth unemployment is a global concern, albeit its impact is felt at varying levels of intensity globally. As with everything else, the global COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on youth employment levels. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in an article titled, Recovery in youth employment is still lagging, reports: “… the pandemic has exacerbated the numerous labour market challenges facing those aged between 15 and 24 years, who have experienced a much higher percentage loss in employment than adults since early 2020. The total global number of unemployed youths is estimated to reach 73 million in 2022, a slight improvement from 2021 (75 million) but still six million above the pre-pandemic level of 2019, the report says.”

As aforementioned, proportionally, youth unemployment is felt more acutely across different regions of the world. The same article by the ILO highlights: “In Europe and Central Asia (ECA) the unemployment rate of young people is projected to be 1.5 percentage points higher than the world average in 2022 – 16.4 per cent versus 14.9 per cent, respectively… 

The unemployment rate of young people in the Asia and Pacific region is projected to reach 14.9 per cent in 2022, the same as the global average, although there are important divergences between subregions and countries.

In Latin American countries the youth unemployment rate is still worrying, projected at 20.5 per cent in 2022… 

In Africa, a youth unemployment rate of 12.7 per cent masks the fact that many youths have chosen to withdraw from the labour market altogether. Over one in five young people in Africa were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in 2020, and the trend has been deteriorating.“

How then, have other parts of the world created opportunities for the youth?

In an article on The Human Capital Hub, titled “Countries with the best job opportunities for the youth and why” it is reported that: “In France, there are incentives for young professionals to start a career because of the increasing demand for skilled labor and falling unemployment levels. According to Reuters, some of the most demanding sectors in the country include manufacturing, engineering, and information technology. A study about millennial careers discovered that 50%-59% of millennials in France were confident about their career prospects.”

What then, can we do to replicate these high confidence levels in securing employment and how do we focus the skills of the youth to match the needs skills required in South Africa? The International Labour Organisation (ILO) goes on to highlight that: “Young women and men are well placed to benefit from the expansion of green and blue (ocean resources and their sustainable use) economies. According to the report, an additional 8.4 million jobs for young people could be created by 2030 through the implementation of green and blue policy measures.

Targeted investments in digital technologies could also absorb high numbers of young workers. The report estimates that achieving universal broadband coverage by 2030 could lead to a net increase in employment of 24 million new jobs worldwide, of which 6.4 million would be taken by young people.”

Returning to The Human Capital Hub article, South Africa should heed the example of Spain:  “… according to the International Trade Administration. Spain has a thriving tourism industry and is the second-largest tourist destination in the world. The country accommodated 82.8 million foreign visitors in 2018.”

As mentioned on numerous occasions, South Africa is the perfect tourist destination. Cosmopolitan cities, with warm, welcoming weather, within a stone’s throw distance of beautiful beaches or bushveld which hosts the big five and countless other major fauna and flora, South Africa should be the largest tourist destination in the world. Tourism on its own should thus be able to provide countless jobs for South African youth. Further, these natural resources we are blessed with, can only be benefitted from if and when we look after our environment thus centralising those green and blue economies mentioned by the ILO, thereby creating further job opportunities in the preservation of these environments. Further, with sophisticated infrastructure and an advanced economy, South Africa needs to gear and direct its youth towards digital technologies. 

Youth unemployment no longer needs to be an ongoing cause of concern if we, as a nation, establish a clear vision by utilising the resources we have and channelling our youth opportunities in that direction.