Youth unemployment remains a significant challenge in South Africa, particularly within its Economic Corridors, where rapid industrialization and urban development are underway. These regions aim to boost economic growth and create employment opportunities for young people. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews. Data were collected from a representative sample of programme beneficiaries across three Economic Corridors, focusing on skill acquisition and job placement success rates. The survey revealed that participants who completed the programmes demonstrated an average improvement in employability skills by 15%, with 60% securing employment within six months post-programme completion. Qualitative insights highlighted challenges such as insufficient career counseling and inadequate support for long-term career development. While the youth-unemployment mitigation programmes showed promise, they fell short of fully addressing participants' needs in terms of comprehensive skill enhancement and sustained job placement. To improve programme efficacy, there is a need to integrate more diverse training modules and provide ongoing support for career development. Additionally, enhanced access to mentorship and networking opportunities could significantly benefit graduates.
Khumalo et al. (Sat,) studied this question.