Why SA's Youth Can't Find Jobs

Research: 'Lots Done Right, But There's No Growth'

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

Despite the efforts made by the government, the nongovernmental sector, and initiatives undertaken by young people in the past 15 years, youth find themselves locked out of the labor market, a researcher on youth and jobs said.

And some believe the youth's economic and social exclusion contradicted the struggles waged by the 1976 generation and others, who sacrificed much to ensure freedom and democracy. Those struggles appeared to have been in vain, they said.

Prof Lauren Graham, interim research chair of welfare and social development at the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA), said over the past 12 to 15 years, a lot has been done right.

There had been more years of education, more finishing school, and a huge investment by the state in skills development training.

This included work done through the Presidential youth employment interventions in the past five years to integrate services and open opportunities.