Latest news with #youthEmployment
The Herald
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Steenhuisen hails 'youth budget' as 3,000 agriculture graduates land internships
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has revealed that South Africa's agricultural sector is experiencing a surge of momentum with more than 3,000 recent agricultural graduates placed in internship programmes. Steenhuisen said this is part of a broader push by the government to uplift youth and tackle food insecurity. The agriculture minister made this announcement during his department's budget vote speech, describing the allocation as 'a budget for the youth' and pointing to major investments in training, education and food security. 'More than 66,000 farmers have received training, and more than 3,000 agricultural graduates have been placed through our internship programmes. We are integrating all 11 agricultural colleges into the higher education system to ensure that they become centres of excellence,' said Steenhuisen. The Macroeconomic Digest Labour Report for May 2024 published by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) showed that employment in the agriculture sector increased by 50% on a long-term basis, from 627,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2011 to 941,000 in the first quarter of this year. According to the NAMC, agriculture employed about 5.6% of the employed pool in the first quarter of this year, making the sector essential in the labour force. It said data from Stats SA showed that men have been the primary participants in the agriculture sector from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2024. The number of men and women actively involved in agriculture was 641,000 and 300,000, respectively, in the first quarter of this year. 'During the first quarter of 2024, the number of women increased by 8,000 (2.8%), while the number of men increased by 13,000 (2.1%) compared to the previous quarter. When combining both genders, the number of people employed in agriculture increased by 21,000 (2.3%) for the first quarter of 2024.' the report said. In a time of economic uncertainty, agriculture has become a rare economic success story. The sector grew by 15.8% in the first quarter of 2025 — a performance that added 0.4 percentage points to South Africa's overall GDP. This is in stark contrast to declines recorded in manufacturing, mining, electricity and construction. Behind the growth figures lie urgent social challenges. 'According to the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey, only 36.5% of households are food secure. Nearly 18% experience severe food insecurity. These are not just figures. They are expressions of a child going to bed hungry, of a parent sacrificing meals, of dreams deferred,' said Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen said to address this, the department is implementing the 2024—2029 National Food and Nutrition Security Plan, in collaboration with the departments of health, education, social development and the environment. 'We are scaling up school gardens, community food hubs and home food production,' he said. Steenhuisen also announced plans to promote neglected and underutilised species (NUS) such as amaranth, African leafy vegetables, and bambara groundnuts — crops known for their high nutrition, drought resistance and cultural value. 'These offer nutrition, resilience and cultural relevance,' he said. He emphasised that the future of agriculture lies in innovation and youth participation. 'The future of agriculture will be decided by the next generation, not only those who inherit the land, but those who study climate-smart techniques, monitor disease outbreaks, and build data systems for traceability,' he said. Steenhuisen said to support this vision, the department is opening pathways for young people into veterinary science, agritech, on-farm learning and extension services. 'Let us empower them to build a new kind of agriculture, one rooted in science, community, and opportunity,' he said.
Gulf Business
30-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Jobs on the rise: Saudi's unemployment hits record low
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that Saudi Arabia's overall unemployment rate, encompassing both Saudis and non-Saudis, fell to just 2.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, marking a continued rebound in Saudi Arabia's labor market. The total labor force participation rate reached 68.2 per cent, with Saudi participation rising to 51.3 per cent, up from Q4 2024. Read- According to GASTAT's Labor Market Statistics Bulletin for Q1 2025, Saudi male participation increased to 66.4 per cent, and their unemployment rate dropped to 4 per cent. The report attributed much of the labor market progress to successful economic reforms and labor empowerment policies, Female participation hits new milestones One of the most notable developments was the continued rise in female participation. The labor force participation rate among Saudi women climbed to 36.3 per cent, while their unemployment rate dropped to 10.5 per cent, a significant decline from the previous quarter. These improvements reflect the impact of national women's empowerment initiatives, which have enhanced their economic involvement and role in sustainable in Youth Employment Among young Saudi women aged 15–24, the employment-to-population ratio rose to 14.6 per cent, with labor force participation up to 18.4 per cent. In contrast, young Saudi men in the same age group saw a decrease in both employment-to-population ratio (29.2 per cent) and labor force participation (33 per cent), though their unemployment rate fell to 11.6 per cent, suggesting a tightening labor market. Prime working age group sees strong gains For Saudis aged 25–54, labor force participation reached 69.6 per cent, with an employment-to-population ratio of 65.9 per cent. Unemployment in this group dropped to 5.4 per cent, reflecting improved job availability and workforce integration. Saudis aged 55 and older saw a slight decline in both participation and unemployment, signaling gradual retirement transitions. Saudi unemployment at all-time low Saudi nationals' unemployment dropped to a record low of 6.3 per cent in Q1 2025. Since 2021, the Saudi female unemployment rate has declined by over 11 percentage points. In terms of job search behavior, 75.8 per cent of job seekers preferred applying directly to employers, followed by 74.6 per cent using the national Jadarat platform. 64.5 per cent updated their CVs on business-focused social media.
National Post
25-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Internship Program Relaunches to Empower Green Innovation Through Employment
Article content OTTAWA, Ontario — BioTalent Canada is empowering employers to bring their innovations to market sooner while developing the next generation of talent with the reopening of the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program. Article content 'The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program helps companies build that capacity today, while fostering the careers of tomorrow's professionals.' Article content Science Horizons provides wage subsidies to eligible employers in the green economy to hire recent university, college and polytechnic graduates. The program is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. With over $750,000 in new funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the program will support small and medium-sized employers in Canada's bioscience sector by placing 25 recent graduates. Article content The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program has helped small and medium-sized businesses gain access to hire scientific and technical staff since 1997 through paid internships. BioTalent Canada has an established track record in administering federal employer support programs, such as Science Horizons, which facilitate the integration of emerging talent into the bio-economy. The program supports youth employment while helping organizations mitigate the financial impact of hiring. Article content 'Employers can find talent with the skills to advance Canada's green economy,' says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. 'The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program helps companies build that capacity today, while fostering the careers of tomorrow's professionals.' Article content Key Employer Benefits: Article content The internships must be in an environment-related STEM role or a STEM-focused organization. Article content 'As a trusted leader in developing Canada's bio-economy workforce, BioTalent Canada understands what employers need to thrive in a rapidly evolving green economy,' says Henderson. 'Through Science Horizons, we are not only supporting hiring needs, we help shape a more sustainable, inclusive and innovation-ready workforce for the future.' Article content About BioTalent Canada Article content BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada, as a workforce development council, is focused on igniting the industry's brainpower, bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers, and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency and sustainability of one of Canada's most vital sectors. Article content BioTalent Canada has received varied distinctions following thorough and independent analyses of the organization. By practicing the same industry standards it recommends to partners, the organization has been honored with the following titles: Article content Great Place to Work® since 2019 and one of the Best Workplaces in Healthcare for 2023 by Great Place to Work Canada® The Best Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the 2024 Best Ottawa Business Awards 2024 Collaboration Catalyst by Magnet Network One of Canada's Best Places to Work by HRD Canada for 2024 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer by Canadian HR Reporter for 2024 Article content For more information, please visit Article content About Science Horizons Article content The Science Horizons Youth Internship Program provides wage subsidies to recent graduates to acquire work experience in fields linked to the green economy. The program covers the cost of a participant's salary by 80% up to a maximum of $25,000. This paid internship helps bio-economy and healthcare employers hire the talent they need and help graduates gain skills to secure full-time employment in environmental fields. Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Inquiries: Article content Article content Siobhan Williams Article content Article content Article content
New York Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Says He Wants to Fund More Trade Schools. Just Not These.
Late last month, the Labor Department sent a letter to dozens of Job Corps centers across the country. Its message was blunt. 'You are hereby notified that the subject contract is being terminated completely,' the department wrote. 'You shall begin immediately all work necessary to provide a safe, orderly and prompt shutdown of center operations.' The instructions threw into jeopardy the future of Job Corps, a Great Society-era job training program designed to help low-income young people enter the work force. Many of the program's students do not have a high school degree or are homeless. Most live, free of charge, in dorms on Job Corps campuses and learn trades in construction, automotive repair, health care and the like. Its defenders claim it offers a lifeline to disadvantaged youths — some 25,000 are served at the 99 centers told to shut down — and provides an on-ramp to employment. But the Labor Department published a 'transparency report' in April that showed something else: low graduation rates and swelling costs. Using those shortcomings as justification, it ordered a 'pause in operations' at the 99 Job Corps centers that are operated by outside contractors. 'The program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve,' Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement announcing the shutdown. The abrupt decision reignited a longstanding debate over the program's merits and effectiveness. It also created a new point of contention in President Trump's efforts to cut costs by dismantling elements of the social safety net. As Congress debates a budget bill that would reduce funding for federal anti-poverty programs such as Medicaid and food benefits, the White House is also proposing that the Job Corps, with its nearly $1.8 billion budget, be eliminated. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Summer job market is a tough one, here's how the government plans to help students
CTV's Christian D'Avino dives into the challenges young Canadians are facing and how one job program may help. This summer, with the job market shaping up to be a tough one, the federal government is stepping in to give students a little extra help. At the Bradford Greenhouses in Barrie, some of its youth seasonal workers say they're feeling the pressure from an increasingly challenging labour market. 'I work when I'm down at school too and it takes me forever to find jobs,' said Ben Walker, a summer employee at the Barrie location. 'Even with restaurant experience, when I'm trying to find a restaurant gig, it's hard to come by.' Walker is one of nearly 50 workers hired this summer by Bradford Greenhouses, but that number is only a small portion of the applicants the business received. 'This year, we've seen an influx of students looking for work we had over 1,500 resumes,' said Kevin Johnson, director of retail operations and store manager. Canadians between the ages of 15 to 24 are facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates since the mid-1990s, according to first-quarter data from Statistics Canada. Overall, the national unemployment rate rose to seven per cent in May. In response, the federal government announced earlier this month it would inject an additional $25 million into the Canada Summer Jobs program, aiming to create 6,000 more positions for youth. 'This is something that I think all of our employers would agree is needed,' said Paul Markle, CEO of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. 'Our youth in this area are underemployed.' Markle pointed to several reasons why job opportunities may be harder to come by. Some positions require more skilled workers, placing them out of reach for new graduates. On the other hand, he said businesses are increasingly focused on efficiency especially with the adoption of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) that reduce the need for labour. 'That isn't necessarily what people want to hear, but I think it is a very real situation that businesses are facing as they try to reduce costs and become more efficient,' Markle said. The Chamber of Commerce itself has adopted AI in its daily operations, particularly on the administrative side, which has led to a reduced workforce.
