Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli announced that more than 76,000 employment opportunities were created in the fourth quarter of 2024 under the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), a key government program aimed at tackling South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis.
The PYEI, launched in 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is a multi-sector plan designed to connect young job seekers with economic opportunities. During a briefing in Pretoria, Mhlauli highlighted that 76,569 earning opportunities were accessed by young South Africans between October and December 2024.
Breakdown of Opportunities
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60,444 jobs secured through the SA Youth platform, a digital job-matching system.
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16,125 positions filled via the Employment Service of South Africa (ESSA).
Mhlauli credited the initiative with contributing to a 0.2% drop in the official unemployment rate, alongside the creation of 122,000 jobs nationwide in the same quarter.
Economists Warn of Long-Term Challenges
Despite these gains, economists caution that South Africa’s sluggish economic growth—hovering around 1% annually—remains a major hurdle to sustained job creation.
Professor Miriam Altman, a leading economist, noted:
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Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) increased by 2.2% year-on-year.
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For those aged 25-34, joblessness rose by 1.7%.
“Unemployment has been rising—it’s inevitable in a stagnant economy,” Altman said. “For real progress, we need growth of at least 2.5% to 3%.”
Young Job Seekers Demand Sustainable Solutions
In Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, some unemployed youth expressed frustration over the temporary nature of government initiatives.
“I last worked in 2020 for a year, and since then, nothing,” said one jobseeker. “Crime rises because people are desperate. The government brings programs, but are they long-term solutions?”
Others called for stronger private-sector partnerships to drive meaningful employment.
The Road Ahead
While the PYEI has provided short-term relief, experts stress that structural economic reforms are essential for lasting change. The government maintains that the initiative is a critical step, but with millions still jobless, the debate over sustainable employment strategies continues.