There are growing calls for a stronger focus on converting education and skills into tangible employment opportunities, income generation and entrepreneurship.
South Africa's youth unemployment crisis has come under renewed scrutiny this Youth Day, with calls for greater focus on economic empowerment and meaningful opportunities for young people.
According to Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2026, 60.9% of South Africans aged between 15 and 24 were unemployed. The survey also found that 37.6% of young people in the same age group were not in employment, education or training (NEET).
The figures paint a picture of a generation struggling to gain a foothold in the economy despite the gains made since democracy.
While Youth Day commemorates the role played by young people in challenging apartheid in 1976, commentators argue that today's youth face a different battle centred on economic freedom, employment and opportunity.
