Latest news with #JakeWillis
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Bold action urgently needed to tackle youth unemployment crisis
According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q1 2025) released by Stats SA on May 13, youth unemployment has surged to a staggering 32.9%, a 1% increase from the previous quarter. For millions of young South Africans, the promise of democracy has failed to deliver meaningful opportunity. Instead, they remain locked out of the economy due to deep systemic barriers, including poor access to education and training, prohibitive job-seeking costs, and a lack of connection to viable employment pathways. 'This isn't just a crisis. It's reaching a breaking point,' said Jake Willis, CEO of Lulaway Holdings. 'If we don't act now, the long-term social and economic consequences will be devastating.' He offers five urgent shifts to tackle youth unemployment: Also Read: Hidden career gems in security services offer hope amid rising youth unemployment • Unlock the power of public-private partnerships (PPPs) Co-ordinated action between government and business is essential to scaling effective job creation initiatives. 'We have seen the impact of collaboration. When sectors work together, real opportunities are created and sustained,' Willis said. • Break down the barriers to entry For many young people, the cost of simply searching for a job is prohibitive. Transport to interviews, printing CVs, and paying for airtime can quickly become overwhelming. We need to bridge this gap by using technology more effectively. Employers can conduct interviews via WhatsApp, use virtual platforms, and run mobile recruitment drives to reach candidates where they are. AI-driven screening tools can simplify the process and reduce the burden on applicants. These low-cost, tech-enabled solutions make it easier for more young people to access real job opportunities. • Rethink training to unlock jobs It's not enough to align education with the economy. We need to rethink how young people access meaningful work. For most unemployed youth, long and expensive training programmes are simply out of reach. What's needed are shorter, demand-driven courses that directly connect to job opportunities. These programmes must be practical, focused, and designed for those who haven't completed formal education. • Support youth mobility Many young people migrate to cities in search of work, but without proper support, they often fall through the cracks. Relocation assistance, transport subsidies, skills training, and transitional housing programmes are vital to help youth integrate more effectively into urban economies. • Fuel youth entrepreneurship With job creation lagging behind population growth, entrepreneurship must be recognised as a critical driver of economic transformation. 'We need to stop romanticising youth entrepreneurship and start resourcing it,' said Willis. Also Read: #YouthMonth: Employment consultant weighs in on unemployment rate At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Jersey wildfire swells to more than 8,000 acres, prompting evacuations and closing major highway
Evacuation orders were issued in New Jersey and traffic on the major Garden State Parkway was being diverted because of a wildfire that began Tuesday and grew to 8,500 acres, officials said. Around 3,000 people have been told to evacuate from the area of the Jones Road Fire in Ocean County, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The service announced on social media shortly before 12:30 p.m. that the fire was burning in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township. It was 10% contained Tuesday night. The cause remains under investigation. No deaths or injuries have been reported, but the state forest fire service said that 1,320 structures were threatened. Damage assessments were underway, it said. The Garden State Parkway runs north and south through the state. Southbound traffic was being diverted at Exit 80, and northbound traffic was being diverted at Exit 63, New Jersey State Police said. Aerial video from NBC Philadelphia showed traffic crawling in the area as drivers tried to negotiate the closure and reach their destinations. "Chaotic, traffic, can't get nowhere, been stuck in traffic for three hours,' Jake Willis told the station. The southern part of Ocean County and the state are under either abnormally dry or drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service lists the region as being in a 'high' fire risk. This article was originally published on
