Recommended Skills Programmes for Youth in South Africa and How to Utilize Them

More than 60 % percent of South Africa’s population is under the age of 35, which makes it one of the youngest countries in the world with respect to its population. South Africa also faces grave challenges in terms of Youth unemployment. Youth in South Africa leave educational institutions and enter job markets that are highly competitive, often without the required skills and experience that many employers demand. The markets also provide limited opportunities for unskilled and inexperienced job applicants.

To address the skills mismatch in the job market, the government, private sector and some non-profit organisations invest in skills development programmes designed to provide the youth relevant and applicable skills that are marketable. Knowing such programmes exist and identifying how best to capitalize on them is indispensable.

This is the South African youth skills programs guide, and it shows how best to maximize limited opportunities of such programs.

1. State-initiated Skills Growth Projects

a) The National Skills Fund (NFS)

Among South Africa’s most critical assets for youth skills development, the National Skills Fund (NSF) is also impactful. The National Skills Fund (NSF) is overseen by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and it funds training projects across industries to support youth from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

There are some benefits available in this area, which include funding for short courses, apprenticeships, learnerships.

The sectors include: construction, hospitality, information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, or manufacturing.

How to apply?

Young people may be able to obtain funds for training, through accredited Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), this includes partnered training institutions. Keep investigating the NSF and DHET websites and local department of labour offices for calls for applications.

b) Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)

With respect to the SETAs, South Africa has 21 of them and each one develops skills for particular industries. As an example, the Media, Information and Communication Technologies (MICT SETA), Construction SETA (CETA), and Banking SETA (BANKSETA).

Key benefits:

Learnerships, bursaries, internships, and skills programmes that SETAs provide are tailored to meet the demands of various industries and they are programmatic.

Payments are done for the work that learners do and they earn practical work experience and accredited qualifications.

Using it:

Find the relevant SETA related to your career interests (for example, the MICT SETA for digital and IT skills).

Research the SETA’s website and social platforms for any available open opportunities.

You will want to build a professional CV and collect your ID, certificates and motivation letter.

c) YES Initiative

The YES initiative partners the private sector, government, and civil society to provide unemployed youth 12 months of paid work experience. YES has, over the years, assisted many young people to secure their first job placement.

Key benefits:

Paid work experience in leading companies.

Building a digital CV and obtaining reference letters upon completion.

Getting converted to permanent job positions or receiving entrepreneurship support.

Getting Started:

Register on the YES4Youth portal.

Fill in the online profile and take the assessments.

Then, apply for relevant opportunities as you see them.

2.Private Sector and NGO Skills Initiatives

a) Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator

Harambee is one of the largest non-profit organisations that assists unemployed youth with work and training opportunities and collaborates with the private sector and the government to help youth become work ready.

Key benefits:
Harambee offers prospective clients free work-readiness training and life skills training.
Clients are placed in entry-level positions and offered internships.
Clients are offered digital tools such as SAYouth.mobi to assist in job matching.

Using it:
Register for free on SAYouth.mobi, which is a zero-rated platform.
Complete your profile and keep it updated.
Check for opportunities that are most relevant to your location and interests.

b) NYDA (National Youth Development Agency)

The NYDA and Youth Development Agency assist the youth with entrepreneurship and skills development that is followed by training, mentorship, and grant funding.

Key benefits:
The NYDA offers entrepreneurial skills training and financial literacy training.
Youth start-ups receive business funding grants.
Mentorship and support in developing business plans are offered.

How to use it:
To apply for a Youth Skills Development Programme or a Grant Programme, visit an NYDA branch or their website.
NYDA offers free entrepreneurship and career planning workshops.
Provision is made by the NYDA for online tools that assist with business management, budgeting, marketing, and other related skills.

c) Vodacom, MTN and Google Digital Skill Programmes

As the digital economy advances rapidly, acquiring relevant skills and competencies is now critical and many organisations are also offering free or subsidised training in online tech skills.

For instance:

Google Digital Skills for Africa has free online courses covering the fundamentals of digital marketing, data analytics and entrepreneurship.

The Vodacom Youth Academy has ICT skills training and supports job placement.

MTN Skills Academy offers e-learning in coding, cyber security and artificial intelligence.

Using it:

Access their Learning Portals (most of which are data free)

Dedicate time on a daily or weekly basis to the course

Use the skills within a real freelance, volunteer or small personal project to gain experience.

3. Community-Directed and TVET College Programs

a) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges

In South Africa, TVET colleges provide industry-relevant, practical education and training in the areas of engineering, hospitality, agriculture and farm management, business studies and IT.

Advantages of accessing TVET college training includes:

Good access to affordable and accredited qualifications (NQF levels 2 – 6).

Well-established relationships with organisations in the local industry, proven to develop relevant internships.

NSFAS funding available to students meeting the requirements.

How to access TVET college training:

Access and choose a TVET college and the related program that could possibly suit your interests and appetites for jobs in the local labour stream.

Apply early for NSFAS funding, if needed, to qualifying students for tuition and accommodation.

Attend job fairs or like events related to the college to meet employers.

4. How to Maximise Skills Programmes

It is not simply sufficient to register for the programme: how you maximise the programme is the key to your success. The following advice is practical:

Be proactive: It is tempting to be passive and wait for the opportunity to come to you or just ignore the options altogether. Take some time to find out what programmes you have available to you, and ask questions, and plan to apply early.

Have an intention: Determine if you want the opportunity to work, to get a qualification, or to build a business.

Curate a professional brand: Be sure to build and update your CV and then explore social media platforms like LinkedIn to create an account — remember that employers often look for walkability on the internet.

Expand your network: Establish connections with a mentor, trainer, or your colleagues — jobs will often develop through connections you make.

Use your skill: Implement your education in your life through volunteering, freelancing, or making a small contract.

Stay connected: The job market shifts quickly, and your ability to stay connected will help you to continue to be informed.

6. The larger picture:

Developing a workforce with the skills, competencies, and capabilities required for different sectors is about preparing people for jobs; it is also about the sustainability of a nation. Young people with skills contribute to innovation, enhanced productivity, and social upliftment within their communities. Ultimately, the way for South Africa’s future relies on the education of its young people so that they are able to innovate and adapt to take advantage of opportunities and to grow the leaders of the future.

Every successful young person who completes their learnership, starts a small business or receives a technical certificate, we start a chain reaction that has social and economic impact.

The Effects of Youth Skills Programmes in South Africa

The effects of youth skills programmes in South Africa have been social and economic. These efforts have assisted thousands of young people in gaining employable skills, obtaining entry-level jobs, and as entrepreneurs starting their own businesses. Through these initiatives, youth have gained employability skills and entry level employment experience in addition to starting their own businesses as entrepreneurs. Their role as a bridge between educational attainment and employment and income opportunity reduces dependency and poverty levels, and encourages agency and creativity.

For example, learners from SETA learnerships enter the workforce in a permanent job role, and young people from digital skills development programmes have become freelancers or started their own businesses or social enterprises. At a macro level, skills development is additive to national productivity, improves and accelerates national employment outcomes particularly in the case of small businesses, and alleviates social safety net strain.  . Most importantly, youth skills programmes bring back dignity and hope in the young, encouraging them to contribute in a meaningful capacity to their family, community and the future of the country.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Employment Skills Programs Young People

Advantages:

Employment skills programs provide a number of significant advantages which not only benefit the individual, but also their community as a whole. First of all, they provide skills that are practical in nature and marketable for employment. They prepare youth for what employers expect, and provide them with training that is relevant, in contrast to some academic settings. Learnerships and traineeships provide participants with not only theoretical and technical knowledge, but practical workplace experience that employers value.

Secondly, many employability skills programs support participants financially through paperwork solutions such as stipends, bursaries or grants to help youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to train without excessive strain from living expenses. Thirdly, these programs help with attention on entrepreneurship. Youth programs often provide business and digital skills that will help a participant start a business or social enterprise and take his or her enterprise to a more sustainable level. Third, employment skills programs provide a sense of social inclusion and the chance to build self-esteem, which itself diminishes youth idleness, crime and vulnerability to poverty. On a national level, investing in lessons, workshop and training for youth contributes to a more skilled population which produces higher productivity and economic growth driven by innovation.

Challenges

In South Africa, the youth skills programs are markedly successful but still are not fully self-sustained. All programs face the persistent issue of limited access and awareness. This issue primarily affects young people residing in rural or less developed areas. The lack of suitable internet infrastructure does not help, but even programs targeting these areas still are not fully developed to the point of being visible or accessible.

There is also the challenge of teaching skills that are not in demand. This is primarily due to the dynamic nature of industries and the skills needed to work in them, which tend to evolve far quicker than the training programs. Inconsistent or ineffective program design also captures fund and resources. The resource allocation to program design, coupled with the expected cycles from the participants, forms the basis of resource allocation challenges. The lack of outcome support and placement, like jobs, post training which is also a concern impacts the retention rates and completion of projects.

Coordinated efforts of all sectors or pillars of the civil system which are the state, the economy, and civil society, all designed with systemic awareness can help block and break any flawed programs or practices.

Conclusion

The need for South African youth digital resources, learning, and access to government and private partnerships makes the skills available to help young people maximize the opportunities available to them.

Each programme available is a stepping stone toward employability, independence, and growth. The SETA learnerships, NYDA entrepreneurship grants, and Google digital skills courses are all beneficial programs. The future is for young people who want to learn, are able to adjust to new circumstances, and are willing to take responsibility for their own development.