ARTICLE BY: Author Unspecified
PUBLICATION: rateweb
Deputy Minister Morolong proudly announces the impact that the Youth Employment Service has had on the PYEI.In a bold move to address South Africa’s alarming youth unemployment crisis, Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Kenneth Morolong, announced on 28 August 2023, the remarkable progress made by the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI). This multi-stakeholder initiative, launched in response to the dire statistics surrounding youth unemployment, has been pivotal in providing young people with meaningful pathways from learning to earning.
Every year, the nation witnesses a staggering number of young individuals exiting secondary education, only to find themselves locked out of employment, education, or training opportunities. A staggering 60% of these young people are confronted with the harsh reality of joblessness, while merely 10% are able to secure employment and 30% pursue further education. The PYEI, a comprehensive partnership designed around the youth, has emerged as a beacon of hope, addressing this disheartening situation head-on.
Deputy Minister Morolong’s announcement shed light on the core strategies that the PYEI employs to facilitate this transition for the nation’s youth:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Pathway Management | The initiative recognizes diverse barriers faced by young people and offers tailored support accordingly. |
| Skill Development Alignment | Connecting skills development with economic demand, unlocking opportunities in burgeoning sectors. |
| Local Economy Empowerment | Creating mechanisms that bolster local economies, nurturing young entrepreneurs and self-employment. |
| Community Engagement | Providing young people with paid community service and temporary earning prospects to gain experience. |
Crucially, the PYEI recognizes that this is not a challenge that can be tackled in isolation. It takes a concerted effort from government bodies and social partners to make a significant impact. The Presidency’s Project Management Office (PMO) spearheads this collective endeavor, providing strategic direction while various national departments, entities, and partners work collaboratively to implement the initiative’s objectives.
A remarkable achievement of the PYEI has been the establishment of the National Pathway Management Network, which functions as a centralized platform called sayouth.mobi. This platform aggregates opportunities and actively supports young people in navigating the complex landscape of economic participation. With over 4 million young individuals already benefiting from this initiative, it is clear that such innovative solutions are sorely needed.
Notably, the sayouth.mobi platform has been instrumental in providing opportunities for marginalized groups, particularly young black women. This demographic faces a myriad of obstacles when seeking economic opportunities. In response to this, the PYEI has created a bridge to connect young women with programs like the Basic Package of Support and the revitalized National Youth Service, which offer targeted assistance to overcome these systemic challenges.
Deputy Minister Morolong proudly shared statistics demonstrating the PYEI’s tangible impact. Since its inception, the initiative has facilitated over 1 million earning opportunities for young individuals. These opportunities are diverse, ranging from positions generated by the Presidential Employment Stimulus to those within the revitalized National Youth Service and private sector endeavors like the Youth Employment Service.
Among the heartwarming success stories is that of Timothy, a young individual who first engaged with the sayouth.mobi platform as a school assistant under the Department of Basic Education Employment Initiative program. When the program concluded, Timothy embraced entrepreneurship, leveraging a digital app called Qwili to sell goods. His efforts paid off immensely, rapidly propelling him to the status of a top earner.
In light of Women’s Month, Deputy Minister Morolong acknowledged the unique vulnerabilities faced by young women in the labor market. The recently released results from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey underscored these challenges, with young women showing lower labor force participation and higher unemployment rates than their male counterparts. To counteract this, the PYEI has concentrated on linking young women to programs such as the Basic Package of Support and the revitalized National Youth Service. These programs offer tailored assistance to help young women overcome the persistent barriers they face.
One shining example is that of Michaela, a 21-year-old resident of Atlantis. Through the Basic Package of Support, she received face-to-face coaching that proved instrumental in addressing the multifaceted challenges preventing her from engaging in the workforce. Her journey led her to employment and even higher education opportunities, enabling her to pursue studies in Human Resource Management after initial setbacks.
Deputy Minister Morolong emphasized that while bringing young people into the National Pathway Management Network was a significant achievement, the focus now turns to ensuring that these individuals can sustainably engage in earning opportunities. This entails not only stimulating demand in priority growth sectors but also developing effective mechanisms to track their movements through the labor market.
As the initiative progresses, Deputy Minister Morolong shared the PYEI’s forthcoming priorities: securing funding for the medium-term operation and enhancing institutional arrangements to solidify the initiative’s presence within the government and foster effective collaborations with non-state sectors. The success of the initiative lies in its holistic approach, involving all sectors of society, and this collaborative spirit must be maintained to ensure the PYEI’s longevity and effectiveness.
In closing, Deputy Minister Morolong emphasized that the results and stories emerging from the initiative are a testament to its impact on restoring hope and dignity among South Africa’s youth. The PYEI stands as a beacon of possibility, creating pathways to opportunities that not only transform the lives of young individuals but also contribute to a more economically vibrant and inclusive nation.