But, while there has been talk of additional measures, such as creating more jobs or retraining the workforce in areas of need, very little actual investment has been seen, at least up to now. This means that most of the people are still unemployed and have no means of creating a better life. The lack of available jobs and retraining facilities coupled with spiralling costs of living has created a very challenging situation for the youth in South Africa. But this does not mean that the job crisis is something that cannot be solved. On the contrary, it is now time to take action and show the world that the unemployment problem in South Africa can be overcome and that the best solution is investing in youth labour market challenges. In fact, this should be the starting point of any discussion on what should be done in South Africa to address the issues on youth poverty.
Since all work involves some form of skill exchange, whether it is between different employees in a business, between various workers at different work sites or even among employers and employees, it should be a good idea to ensure that the youth are provided with job opportunities that allow them to engage in a mix of work and skills indicative of the future of work. For this to happen, employers must ensure that the right opportunities are created for the potential employees or workers. While some will prefer to leave their job positions for more lucrative ones, other employers will be unable to do so due to the low supply of qualified youth in the job market.
To address the problems on youth unemployment, there are several measures that can be taken by the South African Government. The first measure that can be taken by the government includes creating more youth shelters as well as more youth employment opportunities. The shelters can act as the perfect place where unemployed young people can live until they find a job or find a group of friends who they can trust and rely on. They can also be used as temporary employment centres until another position comes along. This will help the young person with both a roof over their heads and an opportunity for work.
Another measure that the government can undertake is that it should make it easier for employers in South Africa to access the short and long-term labour market. The employers will be able to match up the applicants with suitable jobs. This should make life a little easier for the unemployed youth, since they would then be able to secure a job or move to another area where they will be able to enjoy better employment conditions. This measure alone could contribute to thousands of unemployed youths moving forward into the future. It also makes it possible for the economy of South Africa to have a steadier growth which will lead to a stronger and a more stable nation. The South African Government should consider all these measures and take them very seriously if it wishes to give a long-term and healthy economic future to its citizens.
