Eight out of every ten young South Africans have never had a job. This was the startling revelation made by Youth Capitals Krystal Duncan-Williams when discussing the seriousness of the youth unemployment crises in South Africa.
Thousands of jobs are advertised on various website everyday. However, many of these jobs, even those categorized as entry-level positions, require applicants to have some sort of experience. Youth Capital underscores the importance of bridging the gap between inexperienced job seekers and employers hesitant to hire without prior experience.
Internships are a solution to bridge the divide between inexperienced job Seekers and employers.
Small business owners, in particular, face significant challenges in training and mentoring young individuals lacking work experience, which underscores the complexity of the issue.
Internships, along with other forms of structured programmes like learnerships and public employment initiatives, present viable solutions to these challenges.
By providing avenues for young people to gain practical experience while offering support to employers, internships serve as a vital bridge between the aspirations of young people and the opportunity to fulfil their goals. In this context, the efficacy of internships as a tool to combat youth unemployment must be discussed.
However, the success of such programmes hinges on effective collaboration between the public sector, private enterprises, and grassroots organisations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent appeal to businesses to consider hiring young people without prior work experience also shows the urgency of the issue. While public sector jobs and teaching assistants internship programmes have shown mixed results, there is a growing recognition of the need for a more nuanced approach.
Duncan-Williams believes government efforts must align with established community job programmes, leveraging existing resources and partnerships for maximum impact.
Government [must] work with other cross-departments... instead of just coming in with a massive programme.
However, concerns persist regarding the efficacy of certain government initiatives, such as the Department of Labour's ambitious plan to create two million work opportunities in a short timeframe. Critics argue that simply pouring funds into the problem without addressing underlying systemic issues is not a sustainable solution.
Amidst these challenges, calls are growing louder for South Africa's youth to explore opportunities in technical and artisan industries. These sectors offer avenues for skill development and employment, addressing critical shortages in skilled personnel.
