World Youth Skills Day, observed globally on 15 July, was created to shine a spotlight on one of the most pressing issues facing young people today: how to become employable in an economy that’s shifting faster than most people can keep up with. In South Africa, youth unemployment is hovering at crisis levels, increasing from 44,6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46,1% in the first quarter of 2025. The conversation around skills development must go beyond access to cover not just digital and technology-related skills, but the benefits of being able to network, too.
AI is already embedded in the way we work and live and is already changing the job market with routine roles being automated. While this creates panic in some sectors, it’s also opening doors to entirely new career paths, but only for those prepared to adapt. Coding, data analytics, AI operations and ethical governance are just some of the areas where demand is exploding. Yet, according to Stats SA, 3.4 million young South Africans are not formally employed, enrolled in formal education institutions, or participating in any structured training, highlighting that many don’t have a roadmap to these opportunities.
Networking skills have become just as important as technical ones. AI is increasingly taking over everyday tasks, from basic administrative tasks to parts of customer service, meaning the human edge now lies in how we connect, think critically and communicate. A study conducted by NapoleonCat shows that as of March 2025, approximately 25.7% of South Africa’s population used LinkedIn. While LinkedIn usage in South Africa is significant and growing, it’s not as high as some other social media platforms such as WhatsApp or Facebook – suggesting that many young people aren’t fully tapping into professional networks that could help them carve out pathways into new roles and industries. Beyond your LinkedIn connections, networking is really about building meaningful relationships, to collaborating across disciplines, and to engaging with mentors, peers and future employers in ways that open doors.
It is imperative that we start building those capabilities early on in the youth, especially in under-resourced communities where access has historically been limited. By doing this, we can help young people adapt faster than any algorithm can predict, keeping them competitive and connected in a fast-changing job market.
From an organisational perspective, skills development shouldn’t be seen as a tick-box corporate initiative or a side project. It should rather be embedded into how we think about infrastructure, education, employment and succession planning. The only way to ensure South African youth are not left behind is to prepare them for an economy where tech and relationships go hand in hand.
At MAZIV, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when young people are given access to learning and the tools to connect to opportunity. This commitment is realised through our fibre-to-the home company, Vuma, which delivers targeted learnership and internship programmes. What young people need now is consistent investment, clear direction and champions who understand that fibre, AI and digital tools mean nothing if the people meant to benefit from them don’t have the skills or support to plug in.
Digital tools might run the systems, but it’s people who shape the outcomes. If we don’t equip our youth with both tech and human skills, we’re holding them and the country at large back from fulfilling, successful futures.
