Youth unemployment in South Africa remains a major challenge, with many young people struggling to find work after finishing school or college. To help change this, the South African government has launched a range of programmes designed to give young people valuable skills, work experience, and opportunities to earn a living. These programmes aim to support youth from all backgrounds, especially those who face barriers to entering the job market.
Here is an easy-to-understand overview of the key government youth employment initiatives available in South Africa.
1. Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI)
The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention is the government’s biggest and most important programme to fight youth unemployment. It focuses on helping young people move from learning to earning by bringing together different departments and partners. The PYEI improves existing programmes, introduces new ideas, and removes obstacles so youth can find work, training, or start businesses.
One important part of the PYEI is the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). This programme placed over 320,000 young people in schools as Education Assistants and General School Assistants. These roles provide short-term jobs and valuable experience, helping youth gain skills that improve their chances of finding permanent employment later.
2. National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) & SA Youth Platform
Finding a job or training can be hard, especially without guidance. The National Pathway Management Network helps young people connect to jobs, training, and support by bringing together many services on one platform. This includes online resources like SAYouth.mobi, where young people can create profiles, apply for jobs, learnerships, bursaries, and volunteer opportunities all in one place.
The SA Youth platform was developed with help from organizations like Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). It’s free to use and designed to be data-light, meaning it won’t use up much mobile data—a big help for youth with limited internet access.
3. National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Programmes
The NYDA is a key government agency focused on youth development. It runs several programmes including:
Job Preparedness and Placement: Helping youth get ready for work and find jobs.
Scholarships: Offering bursaries for high-performing students.
YouthBuild Programme: Supporting young people who have left school without finishing to gain skills and experience.
Second-chance Programmes: Helping matriculants who need extra support to complete their schooling or gain employment.
Career Guidance and Support: Offering advice on career options and how to get there.
The NYDA also runs the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP), which provides community service opportunities where youth can gain practical work experience while helping their communities. This targets young people who are not studying, working, or in training.
4. Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
The EPWP offers short-term jobs in community projects such as repairing roads, cleaning public spaces, and building infrastructure. Young people working through the EPWP gain skills and earn money while contributing to their local areas. This programme aims to help youth gain practical work experience to improve their chances of future employment.
5. National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC)
NARYSEC targets young people in rural areas, giving them training and work opportunities in their own communities. The programme supports youth to provide important services locally and helps rural development by building skills and creating jobs where there are fewer opportunities.
6. Learnerships and Internships
Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) run learnerships and internships across many industries. These programmes combine practical work experience with training and qualifications. Learnerships and internships are valuable because they help youth develop skills that employers look for, making it easier to find permanent jobs.
7. Youth Employment Service (YES)
The Youth Employment Service is a partnership between government and the private sector. YES provides unemployed youth with a 12-month paid work experience in various businesses. Companies involved receive incentives from the government, encouraging them to take on more young workers. This programme helps youth gain hands-on experience and increases their chances of finding long-term work.
8. Financial Support for Education
Studying further can be expensive, so the government helps youth through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and bursaries like Funza Lushaka. These provide financial support to students who cannot afford university or college fees, enabling more youth to get higher education and improve their job prospects.
How to Access These Opportunities
Young people can start by registering on the SAYouth.mobi website or visiting nearby Department of Employment and Labour centres and NYDA offices. Applications for learnerships, internships, bursaries, and other programmes are often done online or at local government offices.
Local community and provincial government programmes also provide direct access to some of these opportunities, so young people should check with their local government offices or community centres.
Check also: Top 7 Youth Empowerment Programmes SA 2025
South Africa’s government is making strong efforts to fight youth unemployment through these wide-ranging programmes. By offering skills training, work experience, financial aid, and support services, these initiatives create real pathways for young people to build better futures. If you are young and looking for work or training, take advantage of these programmes—they are here to help you move forward.
