Unlocking SA's youth potential is the key to sustainable growth

The future is not what we once imagined. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for South Africa, and at its centre is the need to see young people as a national asset.

- Ravi Naidoo

(Ravi Naidoo YES CEO)

It is not an exaggeration to say that the world is already in or on the cusp of changes that, cumulatively, are unprecedented. Technological, biomedical, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and geopolitical changes are reshaping the world and the life paths of billions of people.

In South Africa, more than 63% of our population is under the age of 35, yet we have one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. Nearly 8.7 million young people are not in employment, education or training.

However, within this crisis lies a unique opportunity. Our youth represent the single most powerful lever for long-term, sustainable economic growth. Unlocking their potential, currently trapped by structural barriers rather than a lack of ability, could transform the trajectory of South Africa's economy.

History shows that periods of rapid growth are almost always driven by demographic and human capital transitions. The so-called East Asian miracle from South Korea to Vietnam - was not fuelled solely by industrial policy, but by large-scale investment in human capability and youth employment.

Similarly, for South Africa, the key to future competitiveness lies in mobilising the energy and ingenuity of our youth. When young people are given meaningful opportunities, whether in corporate placements, small enterprise support or digital innovation hubs, the effects are exponential. Each young person employed or trained multiplies value across their community through income generation, household spending and skill diffusion.

The Youth Employment Service (YES), launched in partnership with business and government, has demonstrated the power of this catalytic model. To date, more than 200,000 youth have been placed in first-time work experiences, funded by nearly 1,900 corporates that have invested R12.5-billion in youth salaries.