The gap between education and employment continues to widen for South Africa’s youth.
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Nearly five million young South Africans could fall out of the country’s economic system this February as universities reopen, job opportunities tighten and many school-leavers find themselves with no clear pathway forward.
Tiyani Mohlaba, chief operations officer of the Afrika Tikkun Foundation, said the transition period after matric is when many young people become disconnected from education, training and employment.
“Aspiring matriculants, recent graduates, and capable young talent across the nation will realise there is no pathway forward: no university acceptance, no job offer, no internship, no plan. Just the awareness that they have become a staggering statistic,” he said.
Youth unemployment among 15–24-year-olds stood at 62.4% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics South Africa.
Mohlaba said February marks the point at which many young people become what he described as “economically invisible” - present in their communities but absent from classrooms, workplaces and training programmes.
“By February, exclusion becomes a tangible reality. Young people who were visible in December become invisible by March - not in classrooms, not in workplaces, nowhere the system can see them. This is where South Africa's youth unemployment cycle begins,” he warned.
Without structured alternatives, many matriculants spend months idle, which can erode confidence, increase financial pressure and weaken support networks.
A major barrier facing young people is not education, but work experience. According to available data, 58.7% of unemployed youth - nearly 2.8 million people - have never held a job, leaving them unable to secure employment without prior experience or build experience without being hired.
By the time employers begin annual recruitment cycles and universities finalise enrolments, many young people already lack a CV, references or any entry point into the labour market.
“This is where hands-on training and workplace readiness programmes become critical,” said Mohlaba. “Students can have all the qualifications in the world, but if they’ve never navigated a professional environment, don't know workplace norms, haven't developed soft skills, and have no reference to vouch for their work ethic, they remain invisible to employers. Workplace readiness training isn't a luxury; it's the bridge between potential and opportunity.”
He said the period immediately after matric is a critical transition window and that missing it makes recovery significantly more difficult.
Marc Lubner, executive chairperson and group CEO of Afrika Tikkun, said practical exposure and employer-linked opportunities are essential to breaking the cycle.
“We're not just teaching skills, we're providing the experience, discipline and good work ethic that makes young people employable. Our candidates gain hands-on training in real workplace environments. They build CVs with actual experience. They receive mentorship and psychosocial support. They develop soft skills. This talent is ready to meet the in-demand skills needed from South Africa’s labour pool, ultimately combating youth unemployment,” he said.
Lubner said multiple stakeholders need to intervene early.
“Every stakeholder has a role to play in ensuring young people don't become invisible this February. Matriculants need to pursue all pathways; learnerships, vocational training and work experience without shame or delay. Parents need to stop viewing waiting at home as a strategy. Government needs to fund what works now. And employers must create entry-level opportunities before disengagement sets in,” he said.
As the year begins, he warned that the window for intervention is narrow.
“We cannot afford to lose another generation. The talent is there. The potential is there. What's missing is the bridge from invisibility to opportunity - and South Africa can build that bridge through collaboration and partnerships. The question is whether we have the collective will to do so.”