Career expo offers a great deal of knowledge to youth
Head of the Department for Roads and Transport estimated that youth unemployment could reach 36% by 2026.
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Youth in South Africa continue to be disadvantaged in the labour market with their unemployment rate higher than the national average.
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According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, for the first quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate was 63.9% for those aged 15 to 24 and 42.1% for those aged 25 to 34 years, while the current official national rate stood at 34.5%.
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Although the graduate unemployment rate remains relatively low in South Africa compared to those of other educational levels, unemployment among the youth continues to be a burden, irrespective of educational attainment.
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As the country celebrates Youth Month, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport in collaboration with various transport stakeholders and industry agencies hosted a Transport Youth Month Career Expo at Gallagher Convention Centre on June 15.
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Johannesburg Roads Agency, Road Traffic Infringement Agency, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Gautrain Management Agency, and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department were among the stakeholders.
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According to roads department, the career expo is an initiative in support of the province’s Youth Month festivities, providing opportunities to expose young people to transportation-related careers. It reaffirms the government’s commitment to upskilling and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in the economy.
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Darion Barclay, head of the Department for Roads and Transportation, said for youth to find employment and reach self-sufficiency, they must engage in employment, training and education.
“This sketch of unemployment is not unique to South Africa, where it is estimated that youth unemployment could reach 36% by 2026.
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“I encourage youth to take advantage of Tshepo 1 Million, a Gauteng youth empowerment programme designed to assist people across every academic level, from Grade 10 up to graduates, for learning and earning opportunities,” said Barclay.
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Although there were several reasons for youth unemployment such as population growth, inexperience, incorrect methods of job searching, and a lack of career guidance in schools, the percentage of unemployed first-time job seekers in South Africa was unacceptably high, according to Barclay.
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Moloto Kwena, one of many youths present at the event, commented on the importance of such expos rather than youth being taught about the 1976 Soweto uprising every year.
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“These expos offer a great deal of knowledge, and being a mechanical engineering student, I was able to learn a lot about automotive, and now perhaps use what I have learned as a side hustle,” Kwena said.
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