Young South Africans with higher educational qualifications are far more likely to secure employment than their peers with lower levels of education, highlighting the strong link between academic attainment and improved job prospects in the country’s labour market.
Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2025 highlights the strong relationship between educational attainment and employment opportunities among the country’s youth.
The survey found that the highest unemployment rate, at 51.6%, was recorded among young people who had not completed matric. While the unemployment rate was slightly lower among those who had obtained a matric certificate, it remained high at 47.6%.
The figures underscore the challenges facing young South Africans entering the labour market, particularly those with limited educational qualifications. They also reinforce the growing importance of education and skills development in improving employment prospects.
Experts have long argued that higher levels of education provide individuals with greater access to job opportunities, specialised skills and the ability to compete in an increasingly demanding labour market. The latest data appears to support this view, showing that young people with post-school qualifications are more likely to secure employment than their peers with lower levels of education.
Education activist and Teacher Learning Support Practitioner, Bontle Sasabona Goodenough, spoke to VOC News on the issue.
*Listen to the full interview here.
Photo: VOCfm
