From learning to earning: Assessing SA’s youth skilling model

Genesis was contracted by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to assess the effectiveness of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) workstream model in fostering demand-led skills and creating an agile workforce.

The assessment aims to review workstream objectives within the context of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) and evaluate their alignment with PYEI goals, ultimately enhancing their capacity to address South Africa's youth unemployment crisis. The primary goal of this project is to assess the performance and relevance of the existing workstream model, providing valuable insights to inform future development efforts.

Launched in 2020 to tackle youth unemployment, the PYEI aims to transition young people from learning to earning. The initiative is implemented through a coordinated approach overseen by the Presidency's Project Management Office and backed by the Support to the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (S2PYEI), facilitated by GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Genesis’ evaluation for the S2PYEI project encompasses several key objectives. It aims to assess the effectiveness and relevance of the current workstream model deployed under the PYEI and the ERRP. This includes scrutinising the model's performance in enhancing coordination among various actors, providing actionable intelligence on skills demand, and supporting targeted skilling interventions.

Additionally, the assessment explores the interaction of the workstream model with other skills anticipation mechanisms in South Africa, identifying overlaps, synergies and potential improvements. It also assesses the applicability of insights from advanced workstreams to those in earlier stages, determining areas for expanded efforts and highlighting aspects that may not warrant further investment. These objectives collectively aim to offer comprehensive insights to guide strategic decisions for the S2PYEI project's future development.

The demand-led skills development component of the PYEI, led by the Department of Higher Education and Training with support from the Presidency, targets sectors with significant employment potential for young people. These sectors include digital and global business services, agriculture, automotive, social services (focused on health and early childhood education), and infrastructure/installation, repair and maintenance (IRM).

Each sector's labour absorptive capacity varies significantly, with agriculture recognising its growth potential and contribution to employment. The automotive sector highlights substantial employment opportunities and the critical need for skilled labour. Digital and global business services emphasise their role in job creation, particularly focusing on youth employment. Infrastructure identifies a strong growth trajectory and its potential for generating significant employment opportunities. Lastly, social services address the pressing demand for skilled professionals in both healthcare and social care sectors.

The demand-led skilling approach focuses on aligning skills development with employer demands to enhance youth employability. Through interventions targeting earning opportunities upon completion, it aims to scale up-skilling initiatives. The structure of demand-led skilling programmes involves collaborative efforts across sectors, emphasising alignment with market demand and effectively addressing skill barriers.