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<p>According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, nearly 3.17 million young Kenyans eligible for work or school are idle in the three months to June.</p>


How to address youth unemployment in Kenya


<p>The Fourth Industrial Revolution takes the automation of manufacturing processes to an unprecedented level, with the introduction of smart, autonomous systems that are capable of self-cognition, self-optimization and self-customization. While these processes present numerous opportunities for producers and manufacturers, it creates a heightened level of uncertainty for policymakers and development practitioners. This is partly due to the new challenges that will arise, especially in terms of employment, educational systems and industrial policies.</p>



<p>The June 16 1976 Uprising that began in Soweto and spread countrywide profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa, yet 44-year later youth unemployment is still a struggle. The youth &nbsp;&nbsp;unemployment rate in South Africa&nbsp;is expected to be 70 percent by the end of 2020, as Covid19 puts jobs at risk for about 1.6 million to 2.5 million in South Africa. The International Labour Organization estimates&nbsp;1.6 billion jobs to be lost because of COVID-19 that could make it even worse for South Africa.</p>



<p>Secondary challenges for youth are the current Education that’s not aligned with the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Future Revolutions and financial exclusion at institutions of higher education and training.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the aim of Industrial revolution awareness for youth and families is to explore the potential impact of Industry 4.0 and digital technologies on developing countries and youth participation in the future job market, given the changing dynamics. The transformative potential of digital technologies is clear and must therefore be properly understood and utilized to take advantage of opportunities, while mitigating the challenges, specifically for the youth.</p>



<p>Youth training Forum to adapt with current and future industrial revolution focusing on Soft skills (uniquely human skills) such as creativity, complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence and critical thinking, which will be irreplaceable by machines; Technical skills ( Computer programming, coding, project management, financial management, mechanical functions, scientific tasks, technology-based skills); Entrepreneurship ( Initiative, innovation, creativity, industriousness, resourcefulness, resilience, ingenuity, curiosity, optimism, risk-taking, courage, business acumen, business execution) needs to be &nbsp;considered for the empowering of young people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.</p>



<p>There is a general consensus that Socio-economic features in South Africa including structurally high unemployment and income and wealth inequality are longstanding and deeply-entrenched constraints on the country&#8217;s growth potential. Deep inequalities – South Africa&#8217;s income inequality is among the highest globally, as measured by the Gini index – and resistance to reforms from key stakeholders limit the government&#8217;s room to adopt and implement structural reforms.</p>



<p>Adaptive challenges&nbsp;are volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous in nature.&nbsp;Solutions&nbsp;to this type of&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;usually require people to learn new ways of doing things, change their attitudes, values and norms and adopt an experimental mind-set.</p>



<p>South African progress has also been distributed unevenly, both within our demographics such as race, gender and generations. Adding to the problem, however, is the fact that certain sections of the population, often women, children, people with disabilities and majority groups, are systematically left behind.</p>



<p>Reducing poverty, youth unemployment and inequality must be the main objectives of South African private and public leaders.&nbsp; The 2030 Agenda aims to ‘end poverty in all its forms everywhere’ (SDG 1) and to ‘reduce inequality within and among countries’ (SDG 10). The significance of the issues of poverty and inequality is also manifested in the implementation principle of the 2030 Agenda ‘Leave no one behind’ (LNOB). Leaving no youth behind will assist South Africa not to create future unemployment and add to welfare spending to the continuous generated future dependence, a big risk for the nation that needs to be mitigated. The SDG 1 and SDG 10 of the 2030 Agenda and the ‘Leave no one behind’ principle needs to be practically strengthened for the South Africa, in building a developmental state.</p>



<p>South Africa will need to solve it’s intractable challenges to reinstate it’s economic development and growth objectives, through an economic investment collaboration to re-establish mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, to reactivate the services industries for a holistic economic development and growth national happiness improvement. Miyelani Mkhabela is an Executive Director at Antswisa Transaction Advisory Services</p>


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Youth Day 2020: OPINION: Why a changing world means more trouble for South Africa’s youth.


<p>By Penny Mkhize</p>



<p>As we pause to celebrate the spirit of the young of South Africa on Youth Day this June 16 we must remember many of them are suffering in the scary, uncertain, world of COVID-19 with the same underlying iniquities that drove them to rebellion in 1976.  </p>



<p>June looked promising with the prospect of parole from lockdown with the hope of returning to normal in 21 days. It was a risk in this global pandemic; the trends in other countries in lockdown stood as a warning.</p>



<p>Yet, at this time , we must look back in sorrow at the damage of COVID-19 and consider how much it will hurt the youth of South Africa.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Around half of South African companies will go to the wall in the post COVID-19&nbsp; world – whatever that will look like – and millions of jobs will disappear with them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The youth were struggling to find jobs long before the lockdown in a shaky economy .&nbsp;</p>



<p>You could argue the grandchildren of the young bloods of Soweto have more opportunities without the pass laws and police that haunted their forebears; yet how much opportunity will any have in an economy that is unable to absorb them?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Then there is the question of online schooling for children at home in the lockdown. Not everyone has fibre and an expensive laptop with which to do this. If ever the pandemic exposed, cruelly, the gulf between the haves and have nots – this was it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On top of this, how do you study, or even social distance or work from home when you live with your parents and ten other family members in a four-room house? That dreadful feeling of knowing you falling behind in everything, be it school work or working for a company, must be soul destroying. It is&nbsp; a struggle for many of the young that persists 44 years after the Soweto uprising.</p>



<p>This struggle takes a toll on the mind as well as the body. We saw an increase in mental health conditions in this pandemic as the youth navigated the uncertainty of the future amidst an academic year turned upside down. Many are seen as the future breadwinners in their families and this responsibility, along with the uncertainty, must have weighed on their shoulders like lead.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even those who managed to hang onto their jobs, lost income and cowered down as they saw people around them struggling to scrape together money for bread.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This is the reality of our youth. The fight for survival both in the mind and the harsh reality of the streets.</p>



<p>It was a cruel, if unintended, irony that COVID-19 saw soldiers back on the streets of Soweto to enforce the lockdown. It brought back bitter memories of how soldiers once kept the youth in line through the barrel of the gun.<br>But the relentless, brave and undying spirit of our 1976 youth has stood the test of time and the pain of oppression to survive.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The youth is fighting to&nbsp; live and be heard. We witnessed this indomitable spirit in this pandemic that descended like a heavy cloud on poor communities already struggling.</p>



<p>In those difficult days the youth rose to make their voices heard through sharing information and sparking debates on social media by posting vital information on the pandemic. They also raised their voices to government about the high unemployment rate, concerns about their living conditions and the disrupted academic year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It is safe to say that we are going to make it through this pandemic and that we are all in together. When we say God bless South Africa and her people, it is a declaration of survival. We cannot and will not fail as a people; remember this on Youth Day and be proud of our young.</p>


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Opinion: Youth Day – Why South African youth are still fighting

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<p>Back in 2016, KCB Group and Mastercard Foundation entered into a partnership worth $30 Million with the aim of addressing youth unemployment and 2jirajiri was born. 3 years later – CEO of KCB Foundation speaks on the progress of the Kenya and Rwanda based program thus far. Jane Mwangi, Managing Director of KCB Foundation joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>
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How successful are incubation programmes at addressing youth unemployment 3 years on?


<p><em>Press Release provided by Stats SA.</em></p>



<p><strong>Highlights of the results </strong></p>



<p>The working-age population increased by 149 000 or 0,4% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of the previous year. Compared to Q1: 2018, the working-age population increased by 605 000 or 1,6%. The number of employed persons decreased by 237 000 to 16,3 million in Q1: 2019, while the number of unemployed persons increased by 62 000 to 6,2 million compared to Q4: 2018, resulting in a decrease of 176 000 (down by 0,8%) in the number of people in the labour force. The absorption rate decreased by 0,7 of a percentage point to 42,6% and the unemployment rate increased by 0,5 of a percentage point to 27,6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. </p>



<p>Employment decreased in all four of the sectors in Q1: 2019; with the Formal sector recording the largest employment losses of 126 000, followed by the Informal sector (68 000), Private households (31 000) and Agriculture (12 000). The number of discouraged work-seekers and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 156 000 and 169 000, respectively, between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, resulting in a net increase of 325 000 in the not economically active population.</p>



<p>Compared to a year ago, employment decreased by 0,5% (86 000), while unemployment increased by 3,7% (220 000). The number of persons who were not economically active increased by 3,1% (470 000). </p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>Unemployment and Not in employment, education or training (NEET) </strong></p>



<p>After a decrease of 70 000 in the number of unemployed persons in Q4: 2018, the number of unemployed persons increased by 62 000 in Q1: 2019. The number of unemployed persons has increased in every first quarter of each year since 2013. The largest increase was recorded in Q1: 2015 (up by 626 000), followed by Q1: 2016 (up by 530 000) and Q1: 2017 (up by 433 000).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Unemployment-table.png1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-336029"/></figure>



<p>The official unemployment rate increased by 0,5 of a percentage point in Q1: 2019 compared to Q4: 2018. The official unemployment rate increased in six of the nine provinces, with the largest increase in Mpumalanga (up by 2,2 percentage points), Limpopo and Free State (up by 2,0 percentage points each), and Eastern Cape (up by 1,3 percentage points). </p>



<p>KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Gauteng were the only provinces that recorded decreases in the unemployment rate (0,5 of a percentage point, 0,2 of a percentage point and 0,1 of a percentage point, respectively). Year-on-year, the official unemployment rate increased by 0,9 of a percentage point. The official unemployment rate increased in six of the nine provinces; the largest increase was observed in KwaZulu-Natal (up by 2,8 percentage points), followed by Free State (up by 2,1 percentage points), Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape (up by 1,8 percentage points each). </p>



<p>The expanded unemployment rate increased by 1,0 percentage point from 37,0% in Q4: 2018 to 38,0% in Q1: 2019. The largest increase was recorded in Limpopo (up by 4,3 percentage points), followed by Northern Cape and Mpumalanga (up by 2,9 percentage points and 1,9 percentage points, respectively). The expanded unemployment rate for Gauteng remained unchanged, while Western Cape was the only province that experienced a decrease in the expanded unemployment rate (down by 0,4 of a percentage point). Compared to the same period last year, the expanded unemployment rate increased by 1,3 percentage points in Q1: 2019. All provinces recorded an increase in the expanded unemployment rate except for Gauteng where it remained unchanged. The largest increase was recorded in Limpopo (up by 5,5 percentage points), followed by North West and Eastern Cape (up by 2,6 percentage points and 2,3 percentage points, respectively).  </p>


South Africa’s unemployment rate rises to 27,6% in Q1

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<p>With the elections less than a week to go before elections President Cyril Ramaphosa went into the heart of the business world in Sandton, to talk of two of the biggest issues in this year’s polls – youth unemployment and education.</p>


Ramaphosa on tackling youth unemployment

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<p>With the rise of youth unemployment and job scarcity, should we explore entrepreneurship as an alternative? CNBC Africa&#8217;s Lubabalo Mashiqana spoke to Josh Adler, Executive Director of Anzisha Prize about developing entrepreneurship into a career.</p>


Anzisha Prize’s Josh Adler on developing entrepreneurship into a career

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<p>Executive Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes Investments Isaah Mhlanga discusses the likely contenders for Nhlanhla Nene should he go.</p>


If SA’s finmin Nene goes who will replace him?

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<p>Executive Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes Investments Isaah Mhlanga discusses South Africa’s Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s legacy since taking office this year and jobs.</p>


This is SA’s finmin Nhlanhla Nene’s legacy since

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<p>CNBC Africa&#8217;s Karabo Letlhatlha speaks to the CEO of Minerals Council SA, Roger Baxter about how best to reduce job cuts in the mining industry and what the future holds for the sector.</p>


We need to create more demand for platinum – Minerals Council SA CEO Roger Baxter

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<p>The much anticipated #JobsSummit kicked off today and high on the agenda was ways that government and private stakeholders can rally together to create jobs. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Karabo Letlhatlha spoke to the Minister of Higher Education, Nadeli Pandor about the summit and the role that higher education can play in creating jobs.</p>


The role higher education can play in creating jobs in SA

<p>By Oulie Keita, ONE campaign regional representative for Francophone Africa.</p>
<p>Africa has been blessed, not only with natural resources but also an abundance of youth, yet we fail to adequately invest in them. At least 60% of Africa’s young people are under the age of 30 but unemployment continues to rear its ugly head leaving frustrated youth so desperate that they are migrating in droves for better opportunities abroad despite the dangers of slavery and drowning in the Mediterranean sea.</p>
<p>The reality is that there has been a migration boom in recent years. Thousands of unemployed youth are leaving, yet they are Africa’s greatest resource. We need to tap into this resource and invest in them if we are to succeed in addressing developmental challenges facing the continent, particularly in the Sahel G5 countries, which consists of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.</p>
<p>With around 80% of people aged under 34 in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, the Sahel is a contributor of the continent’s youth boom while being one of the poorest and most fragile regions of the world. The region is at the forefront of Africa’s opportunities and challenges. If the right investments in education, employment and empowerment of the young people are made today, the development of the region could see continental and global growth surge. Yet, despite efforts to improve conditions in the region, the situation continues to deteriorate. It faces extreme poverty, rapid population growth, fragile governance, corruption, extreme climate and insecurity.</p>
<p>While Africa’s population is set to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050, the Sahel Region is the driver of Africa’s youth boom yet it remains one of the poorest and most fragile areas in the world.</p>
<p>As we celebrate Africa Day, ONE campaign appeals for African Leaders to commit and act upon the African Union Demographic Dividend road map. Leaders should double down on efforts to create jobs, increase the quantity and quality of education spending and create opportunities at home by rooting out corruption, and investing in job-creating sectors, as echoed by the African Union and Nelson Mandela.</p>
<p>“The region is at the forefront of Africa’s opportunities and challenges. If the right investments in education, employment and empowerment of the young people are made today, the development of the region could see continental and global growth surge” &#8212; Mandela</p>
<p>We need to guide our youth through quality education and channel them in the right direction. Former South African president Nelson Mandela believed strongly in the power of young people and their role to harness positive change in Africa. We need to honour his legacy.</p>
<p>In recent years, the youth have been pushed to the edge as unemployment continues to escalate. Of Africa’s 420 million youth, aged between 15-35, one-third are unemployed and discouraged, another third are vulnerably employed, and only one in six has a steady paid job.</p>
<p>Despite efforts to improve conditions in the Sahel region, the situation continues to deteriorate as it faces extreme poverty coupled with a rapid population growth, a fragile leadership, corruption, extreme climatic conditions and insecurity.</p>
<p>Our leaders need to act and change its approach to the Sahel Region to ensure sustainable development. For many decades, tackling extreme poverty has been neglected, but now is the time to make it a priority. Countries need to come together and commit to policy reforms, while scaling up investment in youth and projects to deliver on the changes needed. This will in turn mean that Sahel G5 countries need to sit at the table and participate in finding solutions, while also committing to the objectives. Actionable long-term strategies will be vital for investing in our youth to eradicate poverty and curb migration. Joblessness is a headache affecting most of Africa.</p>
<p>For us to tackle these challenges, the Sahel G5 countries must be included in all stages of the decision-making and implementation processes, and create an equal partnership between all stakeholders. A true equal partnership between African and partner countries, with the Sahel G5 countries at the driver’s seat and their priorities placed at the forefront; because shared benefits mean shared responsibilities.</p>
<p>Tackling poverty in the Sahel and creating the conditions for inclusive, sustainable development will ensure the prosperity and the stability of the region and beyond.</p>


OpEd: Investing in youth needs to be a priority for Africa

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<p>CNBC Africa joined by Gugu Mjadu, Marketing Executive, Business Partners to bring to the fore, the youth of South Africa &#8211; full of potential but lacking the proper support.</p>


Business Partners’ Gugu Mjadu on tackling youth unemployment in SA

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<p>Over one in two youth are unemployed in South Africa. The overall jobless rate stands at 27.7, and National Treasury&#8217;s growth forecast for 2017 is 1.3 per cent. To find out what can be done to grow people, business and Africa, CNBC Africa is joined by Adam Craker, CEO of IQ Business and Craig Wing, Partner at FutureWorld.</p>


Driving inclusive growth in Africa

<p><strong><em><span class="fn author-name">Derek Yu | </span>University of the Western Cape</em></strong></p>
<p>The latest South African jobs statistics continue to reflect a shockingly high unemployment rate which will take some doing to reverse. Concerns about the high levels of youth unemployment and the social upheaval this might cause have been widely expressed.</p>
<p>But a deeper analysis of the numbers reveals an even scarier picture of large sections of the population suffering from chronic joblessness and worrying details about the country’s youth unemployment statistics that haven’t been sufficiently highlighted.</p>
<p>These include the fact that 39% of all unemployed South Africans have never worked before. Among young people this figure is even higher – at 60.3%. The numbers also highlight that many young people struggle to find their first job.</p>
<p>In contrast, the elderly face the problem of long-term unemployment after they lost their jobs. A greater share of them last worked more than 5 years ago. This share was the highest at 47.4% for the 50-65 year-olds.</p>
<p>To save the situation the government might have to make certain difficult choices. These could include accepting that certain age groups, above youth age, are unemployable and that what they need are poverty alleviation interventions. The government might then be able to focus on facilitating job opportunities for those aged between 15 and 29 who account for nearly half of total unemployed.</p>
<h2>Overall unemployment at a glance</h2>
<p>According to the World Bank the 2016 average unemployment rate for all upper middle-income countries was 6.2%. At 25.9% in 2016 and 27.7% in 2017 South Africa’s rate is higher than other African countries also classified by the bank as upper-middle-income countries. These include Botswana at 18.4%, Gabon at 18.5% and Namibia at 25.5%.</p>
<p>South Africa’s unemployment rate has been rising steadily for the past nine years. When the rate dropped from a peak of 31.1% in March 2003 to 21.5% in the last quarter of 2008 there was hope that it would drop to a level close to 15% by the end of 2010.</p>
<p>The rate has gone up despite policies being adopted that promised to cut joblessness. These included the New Growth Path which was adopted in 2011 and promised to create 5 million jobs and reduce unemployment to 15% by the end of 2020.</p>
<p>But in the intervening six-plus years employment increased by 2.2 million, bringing the number of unemployed to 6.17 million.</p>
<p>What’s even more concerning is that the annualised unemployment growth rate of 4.8% is double that of employment growth (2.4%).</p>
<p>If these trends persist, achieving the even more ambitious goal set out in the National Development Plan of dropping the unemployment rate to 6% by 2030 is highly questionable.</p>
<h2>Two extreme groups</h2>
<p>The numbers suggest the presence of two extreme groups of unemployed in South Africa.</p>
<p>The first consists of youth who struggle to find the first job despite actively searching through and answering job advertisement. Most have matric, that is they have completed 12 years of schooling.</p>
<p>The second group comprises of the elderly with previous work experience but who have been seeking work mainly via their social networks for more than 3 years. Most have not completed 12 years at school.</p>
<p>There’s a third group of unemployed sandwiched between the first two , namely those aged 30 years to 65 years with past work experience but who have been seeking work for shorter duration.</p>
<p>The government may need to realistically “accept” the second group (long-term elderly unemployed) as unemployable and focus on poverty alleviation. And the government might want to put more focus on the other two groups of unemployed, particularly young people.</p>
<p>The short-term elderly unemployed may require training to have their skills upgraded to better match the skills needs of employers before they stand a better chance of being reabsorbed into the labour market.</p>
<h2>What must be done?</h2>
<p>The South African government is not doing enough to address the youth unemployment crisis. Its efforts to create jobs for young people through an employment tax incentive hasn’t had much of an impact: youth employment has actually dropped since it came into force four years ago.</p>
<p>There are lots of obstacles to job creation in South Africa. The most recent global competitiveness report shows that the country’s labour market is hobbled by inefficient hiring and firing practices, little cooperation between employers and employees as well as a poor relationship between pay and productivity.</p>
<p>This tempts employers to replace labour (particularly the less skilled and experienced ones) with capital and discourages them from hiring new workers. In both cases, the youth are the most vulnerable.</p>
<p>So, what are the other options to more rapidly boost youth employment?</p>
<p>A transport subsidy for youth unemployed has been recommended as an alternative policy option. The idea was motivated by the fact that many jobs are in areas which are far away from where poor people live and therefore extremely expensive to get to.</p>
<p>The relationship between poverty and unemployment is startling. Data from 2014/2015 show that the poorest 40% of the population accounted for a mere 12.4% of total national income, but accounted for 71.9% of the unemployed. It’s therefore possible that poverty and expensive transport costs are huge barriers to unemployed people finding work.</p>
<p>Self-employment is another potential route for young people. But even that number is falling. It’s alarming that between 2008 and 2017 the number of youth employers or self employed workers dropped from 390 000 to 340 000.</p>
<p>This suggests that entrepreneurial activities for young people deserve serious attention. This should include government accelerating support in entrepreneurship skills training, access to micro-finance and creating an enabling environment for business development.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This article was first published in The Conversation.</em></p>


Op-Ed: The lesser known and scarier facts about unemployment in South Africa

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<p>Oil producer Angola holds elections today. Former defence minister Lourenco, of the ruling MPLA party is widely expected to win. This would make him the country&#8217;s first new leader in 38 years.</p>


Angola to elect new president as dos Santos retires

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<p>It&#8217;s not news that South Africa&#8217;s education system is in crisis. And that this challenge is reflected by extremely high youth unemployment. But some believe technology can help correct this.</p>


youth unemployment

How to address youth unemployment in Kenya

Youth Day 2020: OPINION: Why a changing world means more trouble for South Africa’s youth.

Opinion: Youth Day – Why South African youth are still fighting

How successful are incubation programmes at addressing youth unemployment 3 years on?

South Africa’s unemployment rate rises to 27,6% in Q1

Ramaphosa on tackling youth unemployment

Anzisha Prize’s Josh Adler on developing entrepreneurship into a career

If SA’s finmin Nene goes who will replace him?

This is SA’s finmin Nhlanhla Nene’s legacy since

We need to create more demand for platinum – Minerals Council SA CEO Roger Baxter

The role higher education can play in creating jobs in SA

OpEd: Investing in youth needs to be a priority for Africa

Business Partners’ Gugu Mjadu on tackling youth unemployment in SA

Driving inclusive growth in Africa

Op-Ed: The lesser known and scarier facts about unemployment in South Africa

Angola to elect new president as dos Santos retires

Will technology save SA’s education chaos

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youth unemployment

How to address youth unemployment in Kenya

Youth Day 2020: OPINION: Why a changing world means more trouble for South Africa’s youth.

Opinion: Youth Day – Why South African youth are still fighting

How successful are incubation programmes at addressing youth unemployment 3 years on?

South Africa’s unemployment rate rises to 27,6% in Q1

Ramaphosa on tackling youth unemployment

Anzisha Prize’s Josh Adler on developing entrepreneurship into a career

If SA’s finmin Nene goes who will replace him?

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