While education is a critical weapon in the fight against poverty, too much emphasis is placed on academic qualifications and not enough support is given to skills development. Due to the systemic social and economic struggles that many South Africans face, our education system does not always effectively prepare young people for work, and this has severely impacted several important economic sectors.
The unemployment rate is currently 32.7%, its lowest since the first quarter of 2021. The youth unemployment rate increased to 61% up from 59.6% in 2022.
These statistics are a tell-tale sign that South Africa still faces enormous hurdles in changing this trajectory and begs the question, why is youth unemployment in the country so high? More importantly, how can the public and private sector create opportunities for youth in the country?
Unemployment is a critical issue and has significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. This is largely because there are very few jobs available in South Africa. Young people leave their homes to attend school, but have no real prospects after leaving school.
Thembi Sky Khumalo, oil painting artist and My Community Connects entrant studied Fine Art at Vaal University of Technology and upon graduating soon realised the imbalances of the job markets ranging from lack of opportunities in her industry and others alike, unfair compensation coupled with long hours.
“Now more than ever, youth have to use all available resources to tap into entrepreneurship and use the digital landscape to create opportunities for themselves. This is exactly what I have been able to achieve with My Community Connects,” says Thembi.
As a self-marketed and sustained artist, Thembi used the platform to display her art, processes and unique style to create a need for her type of art in art exhibitions in SA.
“I now have the opportunity to connect with a larger audience within the Fine Art community, such as buyers, collectors, collaborators and a bigger client base that is always in search of a new art exhibition to attend and support,” she said.
Thembi adds that opportunities for growth have come with potential residencies at prominent art galleries a reality she would have not realised had she not used her resources such as a reliable internet connection as a stepping stone to building the foundation of her businesses and using the online world to market her business.
In 2023 alone, it is reported that universities were estimated to receive over 1 million students in various courses. Unfortunately, once these students graduate, they will enter a job market with minimal prospects and will be left with no recourse but to start queuing for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants.
The major lack of access to the labour market shows that curbing unemployment is a monumental task that needs a collective effort from both the public and private sector.
Platforms like Vuma’s My Community Connects have been established to encourage young people to see entrepreneurship as a vital gateway to participating in the local economy and potentially lifting themselves out of poverty.
According to Lianne Williams of Vuma, the platform aims to arm those with a formal education and those without, with vital knowledge such as the basics of setting up your business with tools kits which readies all self-starters with key adaptable resources to enable them to learn, identify and address business practices, while connecting them to mentors and free digital tools to help them make their mark.
“We’ve created the My Community Connects for talented South Africans to showcase their ability and creations and ultimately get noticed. It’s also a hub where anyone searching for brilliant and experienced talent to add value to their projects, can find, book and hire highly talented individuals from our communities,” says Williams.
“The collaboration between government and the private sector to help young people hone their entrepreneurial skills, in light of a lack of access to job opportunities, means that, in the long run, these entrepreneurs can be given the capacity to build their businesses and go on to hire others, starting a cycle of opportunity,” says Williams.
The MCC platform is not only for entrepreneurs looking for income generating opportunities but also potential clients looking for suppliers throughout various fields of speciality that’s proudly South African.