Commentary: The Harsh Reality of Youth Unemployment in South Africa

South Africa’s youth are facing an uphill battle in the job market. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Statistics South Africa for Q1:2025, young people aged 15 to 34 now make up 50.2% of the country’s working-age population — approximately 20.9 million individuals. Yet despite being the backbone of the workforce by numbers, they are the most affected by unemployment.

The statistics are staggering: the official youth unemployment rate has climbed from 36.9% in Q1:2015 to 46.1% in Q1:2025. That’s a 9.2 percentage point increase over the past decade, reflecting a labour market that is becoming more difficult to enter, especially for younger job seekers.

The Most Vulnerable: Youth Aged 15–24

Within the broader youth category, those aged 15 to 24 face the highest barriers to employment. In 2015, the unemployment rate in this group stood at 50.3%. Today, that number has jumped to 62.4%, meaning nearly two-thirds of young South Africans in this age bracket are unemployed.

For those aged 25 to 34 — often considered the most economically active youth — the situation has also worsened. Unemployment in this group rose from 31.4% in 2015 to 40.4% in 2025.

These increases indicate a decade of deteriorating prospects, where education alone is no longer a guaranteed pathway into the workforce, and systemic barriers such as lack of experience, economic stagnation, and slow private sector absorption continue to limit access to formal employment.

A Stubborn Crisis

South Africa has long grappled with high unemployment, but the youth segment remains particularly stubborn. Despite public and private sector initiatives aimed at creating jobs, internships, and training opportunities, the results have not kept pace with the growing number of job seekers.

The problem is multifaceted:

• Slow economic growth has stunted job creation.

• Mismatch of skills between what the education system produces and what industries need.

• Limited entry-level roles that offer little to no work experience or on-the-job training.

• Access issues in rural and underserved communities.

What’s at Stake?

Persistent youth unemployment erodes confidence, breeds social instability, and risks the long-term development of the country. For many young South Africans, the dream of upward mobility is fading.

Government, business leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs must work together to rethink how jobs are created and accessed. Solutions must go beyond short-term relief and aim for long-term systemic change: support for youth-owned businesses, investment in digital and green economy skills, and better alignment between education and market needs.

Until then, South Africa risks leaving an entire generation behind — not for lack of talent, but for lack of opportunity.

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