#YouthMonth: South Africa cannot prepare young people for an economy that no longer exists

South Africa is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, yet millions of young people are entering adulthood without access to work, opportunity, or meaningful economic inclusion. That contradiction should concern all of us.

In May, the latest labour-force data once again highlighted the scale of the crisis facing the country. South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, while youth unemployment rose to 45.8%. Nearly half of young South Africans actively looking for work remain unemployed.

Behind these numbers are real lives and real frustrations. Graduates unable to secure their first opportunity. School leavers navigating an economy with shrinking entry points. Emerging entrepreneurs with ideas and ambition, but limited access to funding, mentorship, and networks. Across communities, there is a growing sense of uncertainty about what the future of work will look like and whether this generation will be equipped to participate in it.

What makes the situation even more alarming is the number of young South Africans who are currently classified as NEET, not in employment, education, or training. For many, the challenge is no longer just about finding a job. It is about remaining connected to opportunity altogether.

At JA South Africa, we work closely with youth across the country and one thing is consistently clear: the issue is not a lack of talent or potential. It is a lack of access, exposure, and pathways into economic participation.

For more than a decade, JA South Africa has worked to bridge the gap between classroom education and the realities of the modern economy, helping young South Africans build entrepreneurial, financial, and work-readiness skills that prepare them for a rapidly changing world.

At the same time, the global economy is changing rapidly.

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the labour market worldwide. Entry-level administrative, support, and repetitive tasks, traditionally the gateway into employment for many young people, are increasingly being automated. Future employability will depend less on routine knowledge and more on creativity, adaptability, digital capability, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking.