Youth Unemployment & Innovation

Mutshidzi Mapila

24, March 2024

I've come to understand that employers often prioritize work experience in their hiring decisions because efficiency is key; they desire the highest quality of work executed in the least amount of time. Thus, when President Cyril Ramaphosa urged businesses in South Africa to remove prior work experience requirements for entry-level jobs to boost employability among the youth, I initially thought this radical proposal was misguided, potentially jeopardizing our country's future.

However, recalling a quote from Thomas Sankara, "You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness,” changed my perspective. The madmen of yesterday—like Isaac Newton, whose theories revolutionized physics—have shaped our present. Sankara’s bold vision transformed Burkina Faso. Perhaps Ramaphosa’s proposal isn’t madness but a necessary step in creating opportunities for a new generation.

But how do we achieve this without collapsing the economy? First, we must understand why we have a 66% youth unemployment rate. The issue isn't just a lack of jobs; it's also a skills mismatch between what youth learn and what the job market demands. We must examine education, economic policies, global trends, and cultural attitudes toward work and innovation.

Innovation plays a crucial role. Apple generates over 1.2 million jobs annually. Imagine the impact if such innovation hubs existed in South Africa. Why hasn’t Africa built its own major tech hubs? While historical injustices like apartheid and colonization played a role, post-1994, South Africa had the opportunity to rebuild, yet job creation remains slow. Countries like Singapore, once colonized, now outperform their former rulers due to strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and innovation.

Addressing youth unemployment requires long-term, sustainable strategies. Removing experience requirements alone won't create jobs. At Greycode, we are launching a nationwide initiative in South Africa to bridge skills programs, TVET qualifications, and STEM education. We focus on hands-on learning to make education engaging and innovation-driven, ultimately leading to job creation.

This is a four-part series. In the next installment, we will explore enhancing STEM education as a solution to unemployment in Africa's ICT sector. We’ll discuss government cost savings, the Greyboard—a compact, reprogrammable computer—and how structured skills programs create jobs. We’ll also highlight key partnerships, contributors, and challenges in this transformative journey.