from DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s youth unemployment crisis has deepened, prompting Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour to call for urgent, coordinated action to turn policy commitments into sustainable jobs.
The committee’s call follows a briefing on the 2025 P20 Youth Parliament recommendations, as the youth unemployment rate rose from 45.8% in the first quarter of 2026 to 47.4% in the second.
The number of unemployed people aged 15 to 34 increased by 264,000 to 5.6 million, while overall unemployment climbed from 32.7% to 33.6%.
Committee Chairperson Boyce Maneli said the figures demonstrated the need to move beyond programmes and commitments towards interventions that deliver measurable and lasting employment.
The committee said the recommendations should strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), improve graduate placement, expand youth employment incentives, increase access to finance and entrepreneurship support, and improve digital inclusion and labour-market data.
The National Planning Commission warned that youth unemployment cannot be solved by one department.
Education and skills development must be connected to industrial policy, infrastructure, small-business support and labour-market interventions.
South Africa’s unemployment problem is structural.
Slow economic growth, weak private investment, skills mismatches, inadequate work experience, barriers to entering the labour market and uneven access to economic opportunities all limit job creation.
Infrastructure and logistics constraints, high operating costs and weaknesses in electricity and transport networks can also reduce business competitiveness and discourage investment.
The Financial and Fiscal Commission has similarly warned that improving access to skills and finance alone will not be enough.
Labour demand must increase, with greater private-sector participation and stronger coordination across government.
Maneli said the committee’s response must therefore focus on practical implementation, including ensuring that interventions reach young people in townships and rural areas and accommodate people with disabilities.
Industrialisation offers one route towards creating large numbers of sustainable jobs.
Expanding manufacturing, agro-processing, automotive production, mining beneficiation, pharmaceuticals, construction, tourism, digital services and renewable-energy manufacturing could strengthen domestic value chains and increase labour demand.
South Africa’s 2026 Industrial Development Strategy specifically prioritises manufacturing, green and digital industries, while promoting localisation and export growth.
Renewable-energy manufacturing is another opportunity. Government’s renewable-energy strategy seeks to develop local production of solar, battery, inverter and other components, potentially creating thousands of jobs while building industrial capacity.
The Department of Employment and Labour reported that 212,462 young people entered work opportunities through its partnerships during 2025/26.
However, the committee stressed that temporary opportunities must ultimately lead to sustainable employment.
Maneli said Parliament’s work must continue beyond reports and meetings, with clear responsibilities, measurable targets and effective oversight to ensure that young South Africans gain genuine access to economic opportunity.
– CAJ News