Young South Africans face an AI dilemma: Opportunity for some, threat for others

The young generation of South Africans is navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the job market. A recent dialogue held by Tshwane University of Technology highlighted the stark disparity between those who have a job and those who do not, with youth unemployment among 15 to 34-year-olds sitting at an alarming 47.4%, compared to an overall unemployment rate of 33.6%.

With nearly half a million young people joining the ranks of the unemployed every year, bridging the skills gap has become a pressing issue. The dialogue, titled "Turning the Developmental Tide: Advancing Africa’s Resilient Future Through AI-Enabled Innovation Pathways," brought together government, business, academia, and labor to discuss how to navigate this new reality.

Tseliso Mohlomi, a senior director at the university, emphasized that the conversation has shifted from debating the potential of AI to discussing what institutions must do now to keep up with the changing demands of the job market. While many South African youth actively use generative AI and see it as a useful tool, only 39% of school leavers feel confident about finding employment after their education, and just 36% view AI as an opportunity for their career.

The primary concern is the lack of job availability, with 62% of young people fearing there won't be enough jobs for them. This divide in perception of AI's impact on the job market underscores the urgent need for coordinated implementation of strategies to address the skills gap. Experts argue that while AI can boost productivity for those already employed, it presents another obstacle for those still searching for work.

The lack of awareness about AI among the general population, with more than 70% having little or no familiarity with the term, further complicates the situation. South Africa needs a National AI Implementation Council to coordinate efforts between government, universities, and industry, focusing on measurable, time-bound goals. The dialogue also highlighted the importance of developing skills in areas such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI literacy, and data engineering, as well as deeper capabilities in microelectronics, advanced manufacturing, and embedded AI systems.

While AI cannot solve unemployment alone, the dialogue emphasized the need to deliberately shape this technological transition in South Africa's interests, expanding participation, building domestic capability, and equipping young people to compete in the global technology economy.