Nearly 140,000 youth earning opportunities secured in three months, says Mhlauli
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli says 139,693 earning opportunities were secured by young people between April and June 2026 through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.
In the first three months of the 2026/27 financial year, nearly 140,000 earning opportunities were created for young South Africans through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), as the government continues its efforts to combat the persistent youth unemployment issue, according to Deputy Minister Nonceba Mhlauli.
The PYEI secured 139,693 opportunities between April and June, with 106,093 through SA Youth and 33,600 via Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA). Mhlauli emphasized that these opportunities do not equate to permanent jobs, but rather support young people to participate economically, acquire experience, and advance towards sustainable earning.
The PYEI defines an earning opportunity broadly, including work-based placements, work-integrated learning, and paid-service roles. More than six million young people have registered on the SA Youth platform since the program's launch in 2020, with close to 70% of opportunities accessed by young women. ESSA has registered 5.7 million young people, with 386,733 opportunities recorded since its inception.
Another 5,244 young people were placed in workplace experience opportunities by the Youth Employment Service (YES) during the first quarter, with 233,393 opportunities delivered since PYEI's launch, 72% through YES and 28% through the Department of Higher Education and Training's Sector Education and Training Authorities. Government is investing in the fifth phase of the Revitalised National Youth Service, recruiting 100,000 young people, and has also recruited 2,866 through this quarter.
The National Youth Development Agency offered 5,214 enterprise support opportunities during the quarter, with 277,349 enterprise support opportunities recorded since PYEI's inception. Government has allocated R95 million to the fourth call for proposals under the National Pathway Management Network Innovation Fund, targeting economic opportunities in rural and marginalised communities and supporting disabled young people.
Evaluations and tracing studies are underway to assess the long-term impact of the PYEI, as the program aims to move 500,000 young people into sustainable earning opportunities.
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