As unemployment grows so does the advancement of AI make the first rung of the ladder for youth to enter the job market.
South Africa's worsening unemployment crisis is raising fresh concerns about whether the country's young people are adequately prepared for a labour market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change.
Added to that women, whose unemployment figure continues to rise, are not only carrying families but are also being asked to prepare the next generation for a workplace that is changing before they have even entered it.
For Nelo P Spies, executive director of youth-employment organisation JA South Africa, that makes the question of work much bigger than whether South Africa can create more jobs.
“It is very depressing and heartbreaking to see that women are still carrying the brunt of unemployment, yet they are carrying families. They need to put food on the table for young people. They need to care for older people,” Spies said.
