Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, has called for a more integrated approach between government, institutions and employers to better position young people for participation in the economy.
She emphasised that coordinated efforts are critical to ensuring unemployed youth are meaningfully absorbed into the labour market.
“The world of work is undergoing profound change. Many of the roles that young people will occupy in the future do not yet exist, while some current roles will evolve or disappear. This requires a fundamental shift in how we prepare young people for the labour market,” Mhlauli said.
She highlighted that rapid technological advancements, the expansion of digital economies and shifts in global value chains are fundamentally reshaping the nature of jobs and the skills required.
Mhlauli was speaking at the fourth anniversary of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), where she underscored the urgency of addressing South Africa’s persistent youth unemployment challenge.
She noted that strengthening partnerships and aligning skills development with emerging economic demands will be key to improving employment outcomes for young people.
“Young people between the ages of 15 and 34 make up more than half of our working-age population, yet far too many remain excluded from employment, education, or training.
“When young people are locked out of the economy, the consequences are intergenerational. Households are weakened, communities are destabilised and economic growth is constrained,” she said.
Mhlauli said when young people are brought into the economy, the opposite is true, there is increased productivity, stronger social cohesion and a more resilient nation.
“It was precisely in response to this crisis that government introduced the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, working through the Presidency and in collaboration with a wide range of partners.
“The PYEI is designed as a coordinated national response to youth unemployment. It seeks to create pathways into the labour market, to provide young people with meaningful work experience, and to equip them with the skills required to succeed in a competitive and evolving economy,” the Deputy Minister said.
Mhlauli said it is important to understand that the PYEI is not a single programme but a platform that brings together multiple interventions under a shared vision.
“It aligns public sector opportunities, private sector participation, and institutional support to ensure that young people are not left behind. The strength of the PYEI lies in the breadth of its partnerships. Government provides the enabling environment through policy direction, funding and coordination. Institutions such as universities and colleges play a critical role in preparing young people with foundational knowledge and skills.
“The private sector provides the most crucial component, which is access to real workplaces where young people can gain experience and demonstrate their capabilities. This collaborative model recognises that no single sector can resolve youth unemployment on its own. It requires a whole-of-society approach,” Mhlauli said.
Mhlauli explained that the PYEI works by connecting young people to structured opportunities that offer both income and learning.
“Through initiatives within the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus, young participants are placed in workplaces where they can develop practical skills, build professional networks and gain confidence.
“At institutions such as the University of the Western Cape, this approach has already yielded positive results, with graduates transitioning into various sectors and careers after completing their placements.
“These outcomes demonstrate that when young people are given an opportunity, they are able to rise to the occasion.
“We are therefore working towards a skills system that is more responsive, more flexible, and more closely aligned with economic demand,” Mhlauli said.
Through the Presidential Youth Employment Stimulus (PYES), UWC has, over the past four years, supported graduates enabling their transition into various sectors of the economy. – SAnews.gov.za
