President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South African businesses to create more employment opportunities for young people, urging employers to look beyond work experience and recognise the potential, skills and determination of young job seekers.
Speaking at the SA Youth National Leadership Convening at the Galleria Conference Centre in Sandton on Thursday, 22 October 2026, the President said government, businesses, labour, civil society and educational institutions must work together to address youth unemployment.
He encouraged employers to provide young people with opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop their skills and demonstrate their abilities.
“Let us stop treating a lack of experience as a lack of ability. A young person should not have to spend years searching for an opportunity simply because no employer is prepared to give them a first chance.”
Ramaphosa described youth unemployment as more than an economic problem, saying it also presents a social and human challenge that affects South Africa's future.
He called for a rethink of how young people are prepared for employment, arguing that the country needs new approaches to help young people enter the world of work.
Tackling Youth Unemployment Requires a Joint Effort
The President stressed that addressing youth unemployment is a shared national responsibility that cannot be left to government or the private sector alone.
He said government must create an environment that supports investment, business development and job creation. Businesses, in turn, must invest in economic activity and open their workplaces to young people.
Educational institutions also have a responsibility to equip students with the knowledge and skills employers need, while labour, civil society and communities must help ensure that opportunities are accessible and inclusive.
Young people, he added, must actively participate in shaping their economic futures.
Ramaphosa pointed to the Government-Business Partnership as an example of how cooperation can help address economic challenges, improve the investment environment and support reforms. He called for the same collaboration and urgency to be applied to youth employment.
Youth Employment Programmes Must Lead to Lasting Opportunities
The President highlighted existing initiatives designed to connect young people with employment and training opportunities, including the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the SA Youth Pathways Network and the Youth Employment Service (YES).
Public employment programmes have also helped young people gain workplace experience while contributing to areas such as education, food security, community safety and environmental protection.
However, Ramaphosa said South Africa must look beyond placing young people in temporary employment programmes.
He argued that these opportunities should act as stepping stones towards further training, entrepreneurship or permanent employment. Workplace placements should also help young people enter sustainable career pathways.
The President called for stronger links between education, skills development, workplace experience and employment.
TVET Colleges and Skills Development Must Meet Industry Needs
Ramaphosa said reforms to the skills development system, including the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, aim to make training more responsive to the needs of employers.
He encouraged businesses to play a greater role in identifying skills shortages, helping to design training programmes and providing workplace learning opportunities.
Colleges, meanwhile, should ensure that graduates are equipped with the practical and technical skills needed to participate in the modern economy.
The President also called for vocational and technical careers to be recognised as attractive and rewarding options for young South Africans.
He highlighted the demand for skilled workers such as artisans, technicians, builders, electricians, mechanics and agricultural specialists, among other professionals with practical expertise.
Ramaphosa Calls for More Support for Young Entrepreneurs
Beyond traditional employment, the President said South Africa needs to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs who can establish businesses, provide services, develop products and create jobs.
Although young people are demonstrating innovation and entrepreneurial potential in townships and rural communities, many businesses struggle to grow because they lack access to finance, markets, infrastructure and business support.
Ramaphosa called on government and businesses to improve access to start-up and working capital, open procurement opportunities and supply chains to youth-owned businesses, and provide mentorship and business development assistance.
He also encouraged established companies to integrate young entrepreneurs into their supply chains and business networks.
“A young entrepreneur does not always need a grant. Sometimes what that entrepreneur needs most is a customer. A contract. A market. An opportunity to prove that their business can deliver,” he said.
The President identified tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, digital services, the green economy and the creative industries as sectors with potential to create jobs and develop skills.
He said government, businesses and training institutions should work together to identify growing demand for workers and prepare young people to take advantage of available opportunities.
Work SA Youth Implementation Plan Focuses on Action
Ramaphosa said the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan provides a framework for coordinating youth employment efforts and expanding initiatives that have demonstrated success.
However, he emphasised that implementation must take priority over strategies and announcements.
He called on business leaders to identify practical opportunities to recruit young people within their companies and industries. Industry associations should also work with employers, including smaller businesses, to expand workplace learning and entry-level recruitment.
Educational and training institutions should strengthen their relationships with employers, while government departments and agencies must address obstacles that prevent these partnerships from succeeding.
The President said effective collaboration requires clear responsibilities, practical commitments and ways to measure progress.
“We need to know what is working, what is not working and what needs to change,” he emphasised.
Successful programmes should be expanded, while initiatives that are not delivering results should be improved.
Ramaphosa concluded by stressing that young people are not asking for special treatment, but for a fair opportunity to work, gain skills, earn a living and contribute to South Africa's development.
