Youth converge in Waterfall City to brainstorm ideas to tackle the alarmingly high employment rate
Norvatis head of communication and engagement for the Middle East and Africa Sibonile Dube, said, "There's urgent need to address many challenges that young people face in pursuing Stem careers."
Novartis South Africa held a youth day event where learners from the current and past learnership programmes came together and held conversations on navigating the workplace as young people.
The event was attended by Novartis associates, as well as Grade 10 and 11 learners from Bluehills College and students from Varsity College and Eduvos in Midrand.
Novartis South Africa, the top employer in the pharmaceutical industry in South Africa for 2023, addressed the high youth unemployment rate with its annual programme in Waterfall City, Midrand on June 20.
The twelve-month learnership programme aims to attract, develop, and retain talent building while providing learners with vital experience to kick-start their careers.
Sibonile Dube, Novartis Head of Communications and Engagement for the Middle East and Africa said South Africa is faced with an exceptionally high youth unemployment rate.
She said that statistics show that in quarter four of 2022, 43,4% of youth aged between 15 and 34 years who are not in education, employment or training were unemployed.
“Against this backdrop, corporates and businesses have a crucial role to play in informing youth about the world of work. By helping them to successfully find employment opportunities and to build thriving careers and businesses. As we commemorate youth month, it’s imperative to recognise the importance of promoting youth development, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) where there is a high demand,” said Dube.
Dube further added that this month serves as a vital reminder of the urgent need to address the many challenges that young people face in pursuing Stem careers, as well as the need to develop innovative approaches to nurture their interest and confidence in these subjects.
She said South Africa’s agriculture, mining, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors all rely heavily on Stem professionals.
“These industries require the expertise of field-specific engineers and scientists, geo-scientists, programmers, developers, mathematicians, statisticians, and medical professionals, among others. Amidst high demand for these professions, it is therefore important for young people to pick up the mantle and pursue careers in these fields,” Dube added.
She concluded that the goal is to help graduates from previously disadvantaged backgrounds gain skills and experience in a wide range of pharmaceutical, sales, and management competencies.
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