Press Release
Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 January 2026: Mastercard has welcomed its 2026 Youth Employment Service (YES) cohort, reinforcing its commitment to unlocking opportunity for young South Africans and strengthening the country’s future talent pipeline as part of the YES initiative.
In collaboration with YES, this initiative offers emerging talent invaluable hands-on experience, structured mentorship, and skills development within a fast-evolving digital economy. YES Youth are integrated across Mastercard teams, working on high impact projects to complete their 12 month work experience, while building the professional grounding needed for long-term careers.
Youth unemployment in South Africa remains a significant economic challenge, with rates reaching 58.5% for those aged 15-24 in Q3 2025. Through strategic programmes like YES, Mastercard continues to invest in practical solutions that help bridge the gap between education and employment.
“We believe that developing young professionals is an investment in South Africa’s economic resilience. Our collaboration with YES reflects our steadfast commitment to creating pathways that enable youth to gain meaningful experience and contribute to a thriving, inclusive economy,” said Akinola Akinrin, director, People Business Partner, Mastercard.
“In the face of South Africa’s high unemployment rate, it is vital that our collaboration with Mastercard continues to make strides in integrating the nation’s youth into the workforce. Young people have immense potential to drive economic growth, and the best way to unlock that is by equipping them with the right tools and providing the necessary guidance. We are proud to see this collaboration grow, and we hope it will continue to succeed, benefiting generations to come,” said Ravi Naidoo, CEO of YES
Fifteen candidates have joined the 2025/26 cycle, selected for their drive and determination. They will take part in structured training, build essential workplace skills, and grow their networks as they navigate the early stages of their careers.
“The YES programme at Mastercard provided a transformative foundation for my professional journey. The exposure to real-world work, supportive mentorship, and focus on professional development have all equipped me to take confident next steps in the industry,” said former YES Alumni, Nishalia Pillay, Product Management Specialist, Mastercard
Mastercard remains focused on supporting South Africa’s youth through initiatives that build skills, unlock potential, and contribute to a more inclusive economy. The YES initiative continues to play a vital role in enabling young people to participate in and shape the country’s digital future.
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About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.