Youth unemployment in South Africa has climbed to 47.4%.
That means almost one in two young people who want work can’t find it.
The government says its programmes have created millions of opportunities.
But many young people are still asking the same question: where do I actually start?
Here’s where: several government-backed programmes offer paid work experience, service placements and business support, and most of them start on one free platform, SAYouth.mobi.
THE LATEST YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES
According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), youth unemployment rose from 45.8% in the first quarter of 2026 to 47.4% in the second quarter.
The number of unemployed young people aged 15 to 34 increased by 264,000, to 5.6 million, according to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour.
The committee has called for urgent and coordinated action.
MILLIONS OUTSIDE WORK AND STUDY
Many young people are also disconnected from both work and study.
Of about 10.4 million young people aged 15 to 24, 36.4% were not in employment, education or training in the second quarter of 2026, according to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
That’s up 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier.
DOES EDUCATION HELP?
Yes, but it’s not a guarantee.
Graduates had an unemployment rate of 12.4%, compared with 39.2% among people without matric.
However, graduate unemployment also rose during the quarter.
WHERE YOU LIVE MATTERS
Unemployment varies sharply across the country.
The overall unemployment rate reached:
- Eastern Cape: 47.5%
- North West: 38.1%
- Free State: 37.3%
- Mpumalanga: 36.6%
- Western Cape: 19.5%
WHERE TO START: SAYOUTH.MOBI
Most government youth employment opportunities are listed on SAYouth.mobi, a free platform run as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI).
More than 5.7 million young people are registered on it, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
THE PROGRAMMES YOU CAN APPLY FOR
National Youth Service
The revitalised National Youth Service places young people in paid service opportunities in their communities.
It has placed 132,784 young people so far, and had another 100,000 opportunities available on SAYouth.mobi, according to the Presidency.
The Youth Employment Service (YES)
YES is a private sector-led initiative, in partnership with the Presidency, that places young people in year-long work experience opportunities at companies across the country.
It has created more than 228,000 youth jobs, and 60% of participants have gone on to full-time employment after the programme.
Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund
This pay-for-performance fund links training to real jobs.
Training providers only receive most of their funding once the young people they train find verified, sustained employment.
In one recent quarter, it enrolled more than 9,170 young people and placed more than 7,200 in jobs.
Basic Education Employment Initiative
This programme places young people as assistants in schools, and is one of the country’s largest youth employment programmes.
Support for young entrepreneurs
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) offers entrepreneurship development, skills programmes and employment facilitation, including training, mentorship and grants to help young people start or grow their own businesses.
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE SEEING REAL BENEFITS?
The government says the PYEI has helped more than 2.9 million young people access earning opportunities since 2020.
But many of these opportunities are short-term, such as service placements and temporary work in schools.
That’s why the YES figure matters: a programme where most participants go on to full-time work offers a clearer path to lasting employment.
The NYDA itself has warned that youth programmes alone can’t solve the crisis.
It has called for youth employment to be an explicit measure against which the country’s economic policies are judged, saying South Africa needs a stronger economy that can create jobs at scale.
TIPS FOR YOUNG JOB SEEKERS
- Register on SAYouth.mobi, and keep your profile up to date.
- Apply for work experience, even if it’s temporary, since it builds your CV.
- Never pay for a job or a placement. Government youth programmes are free to apply for.
- Check opportunities through official channels, such as SAYouth.mobi, the NYDA or government websites.
ARE YOU A YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN LOOKING FOR WORK? WHAT’S YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN?
Let us know in the comments below…