Latest news with #youthemployment
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Cape Town's young hospitality stars rise through Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
As Youth Month honours the sacrifices that shaped South Africa's democracy, it also shines a light on the young talent now redefining key industries. Hospitality, long a training ground for creativity, resilience, and opportunity, continues to open doors for the country's youth. At Cape Town's Radisson Red Waterfront, three young professionals are proving what's possible when passion meets opportunity. Alicia Blauw, Julius Petersen, and Sibulele Fon are making their mark in the industry through their journey with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Connecting youth to hospitality careers Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to tackling youth unemployment by linking young people with skills development, work opportunities, and career pathways. By partnering with businesses and training providers, Harambee is helping build sustainable careers in sectors like hospitality. Alicia Blauw: Finding purpose through confidence "This programme gave me the training and support I needed to prepare for the hospitality industry," says Blauw, now a food and drinks creative. She has found not only confidence, but also purpose. "Before this, youth were often overlooked, many sitting at home without work or a future. But this programme gives hope." Alicia Blauw, Food and Creative, Radisson Red Waterfront A memorable highlight for Blauw was mastering barista skills — a seemingly small achievement that opened the door to self-belief. Her message to fellow young people is clear: 'Never give up hope. There's something meant for you. God gave everyone a purpose. Dream it, then put it into action.' Julius Petersen: Building professionalism and pride Petersen, also a food and drinks creative, credits Harambee with instilling professionalism and teamwork. 'It showed me what's expected in this industry and how to handle it." He values the diversity of the hospitality environment, and one memorable moment: 'I got to meet a celebrity who really liked me." Julius Petersen, Food and Creative, Radisson Red Waterfront For Petersen, Youth Month is a reminder to honour those who paved the way. 'It reminds me not to quit on my dreams and never forget who I am and what I'm capable of.' Sibulele Fon: Growth behind the coffee bar For Fon, now a barista at Radisson Red, the programme created both opportunity and personal growth. 'It educated me about hospitality and helped me get where I am now.' Pulling his first coffee behind the bar was a defining moment. Sibulele Fon, Barista, Radisson Red Waterfront It also boosted his social confidence. 'My communication skills have improved. I'm more interactive than ever before.' His advice to peers? 'Reach for the stars. Don't limit yourself. You CAN achieve more than you ever expected.' Investing in youth means investing in SA's future All three credit Harambee and Radisson Red for providing an environment where young people can thrive. Their stories capture the spirit of Youth Month, honouring the past while actively building a brighter, more inclusive future. Blauw, Petersen, and Fon show that with the right support, young South Africans can lead with creativity, courage, and heart.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
NextGen Career Fest bridges talent and opportunity in youth-driven career event
With a bold vision of 'Zero Youth Unemployment', Pupilar launched NextGen Career Fest as a flagship initiative to unify the UAE's youth talent ecosystem — bringing together students, jobseekers, startups, mentors, entrepreneurs, employers, educators, and government partners under one future-forward platform. Under the leadership of its founders, this youth-led movement represents a long-term commitment to transforming how the region approaches youth employment, upskilling, and opportunity access. On May 31, NextGen Career Fest brought together over 1,250 registered youth from 60+ nationalities and 149 universities (64 local and 85 international) in a dynamic one-day event at in5 Tech, Dubai Internet City, a leading government-backed innovation hub under Tecom Group. With 500+ attendees and 70 companies in its ecosystem — including 18 exhibitors actively hiring, 16+ industry mentors, 19 partners, and 14 youth-led startups — NextGen served as a pivotal platform connecting emerging talent with employers, educators, and innovators. The event's significance was elevated by the presence of VVIP guests, including Saeed Al Nofeli, vice president of in5, and Mahir Julfar, executive vice president of Venue Services Management at Dubai World Trade Centre. They were joined by more than 60 distinguished VIPs representing government-linked entities, education regulators, and national youth programs, underscoring NextGen's strong alignment with the UAE's D33 Vision and its commitment to fostering local talent and driving innovation. The success stories emerging from the Pupilar community further highlight the event's impact. Many young participants have progressed from students to confident professionals, with some even returning as employers — hiring the next generation of talent at NextGen and closing the loop on a powerful cycle of empowerment and growth.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Forestry sector webinar highlights career pathways for unemployed youth
In celebration of Youth Month, South Africa's forestry sector placed the spotlight on youth employment opportunities with the launch of the inaugural FSCC Youth Webinar. Hosted by the Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC) in partnership with Forestry South Africa (FSA), the virtual event brought together public and private sector leaders to unpack how graduates and students can build sustainable careers in the country's forestry industry. Themed "Raise Your Hand to Be Part of the Discussion", the webinar focused on creating awareness around career prospects, bridging graduate skills gaps, and showcasing sector initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Forestry graduate employment programme Norman Dlamini, FSA's director of business development, delivered the keynote address and presented the Forestry Graduate Employment Programme (F-GEP) – a sector-wide initiative tackling youth unemployment. Designed as a one-year enriched internship, F-GEP is aimed at improving the employability of unemployed forestry graduates while nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset. "It seeks to address critical skills shortages in the forestry sector. F-GEP prioritises graduates who show interest in pursuing scarce and in-demand skillsets," says Dlamini. Through a structured rotation model, participants are placed with industry experts across different areas of forestry operations, including: • Forest fire management • Forest engineering (wheels and mechanisation) • Forestry chemicals • Pests and disease control • Human resources within forestry environments The programme's dual focus on skills development and enterprise creation makes it a unique intervention. 'F-GEP goes beyond traditional internships,' explains Dlamini, adding that while internships expose students and graduates to a workplace, they do not necessarily make them more employable. "We assess individual graduates' technical and interpersonal skills, close the gaps, and prepare them to be employable, entrepreneurial, and industry-ready." Stories that inspire Among the most memorable speakers were Sabelo Sithole, Managing Director of New Age Forest Solutions, and Eutricia Nkuna, FSCC research assistant, who shared personal stories of perseverance, growth, and initiative. Eutricia outlined the key attributes that enabled her to progress from an unemployed forestry graduate to a research assistant, while Sabelo emphasised the importance of proactively seeking out available opportunities. "The conversations were honest, relevant and inspiring," says Dr Blessing Karumbidza, coordinator of the Higher Certificate in Forestry at Tshwane University of Technology. "Eutricia's story, in particular, will serve as a blueprint for others. I hope this webinar becomes a regular feature – quarterly, even – because the doors it opened must stay open." Recognising student engagement In a unique show of encouragement, FSA awarded R1,000 Cape Union Mart vouchers to the students who posed the most insightful questions during each of the six Q&A sessions. "In a small sector like ours, putting your hand up and speaking up can open doors," says Dr Katy Johnson, FSA communication manager and MC for the webinar. "We wanted to reward that confidence and help students realise that their voices matter." With strong engagement, compelling storytelling, and a renewed commitment to youth development, the FSCC Youth Webinar is set to become a cornerstone initiative in the sector's transformation and enterprise development agenda.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Britain's defeatist attitude ‘has led to reliance on foreign labour'
A 'defeatist' attitude to getting young people into work has left Britain over-reliant on foreign labour, the Business Secretary has said. Jonathan Reynolds hits out at the 'casual' approach taken to packing key sectors such as healthcare, construction and manufacturing with imported workers. In an interview with The Telegraph, he says the UK is 'vulnerable' to global events because 'tremendous skills gaps' have opened up in the domestic workforce. His intervention comes as Labour prepares to publish plans on Monday on how to boost the number of young Britons taking up jobs in areas like defence. Mr Reynolds will publish a 10-year blueprint to train up thousands more school leavers and 'end the over-reliance on foreign labour' in the economy. It comes after new analysis from Oxford University's Migration Observatory showed the proportion of migrant employees in the UK has risen from 12 per cent a decade ago to just under one in five now. At the same time, the number of young Britons who are not in employment, education or training (Neet) has risen sharply to one in seven. The Business Secretary said that the Neet statistic was 'appalling' and that people too often felt that skilled jobs had 'not been available to them and their children'. 'If on key areas the argument is 'we just have to import talent in that sector, we can't train people, we haven't got the money, we haven't got the capacity', I think that's too defeatist and we've got to address that,' he said. 'We cannot have a vibrant, diverse economy, we cannot have a very strong manufacturing base, unless we've got the skills for it and that's why we can't be casual about just importing that.' Monday's industrial strategy announcement will include plans to open a new generation of technical colleges and fund 'cutting-edge' courses in defence and engineering. It will also set out how the Government plans to be more interventionist, 'rather than leaving industry to fend for itself and let the markets decide'. Mr Reynolds said it will help 'ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow'. He acknowledged that the historically high level of net migration over recent years 'doesn't have public consent' and has created a 'lot of anger'. It was important to remain 'very pro talent coming to the UK' but also ensure migration was 'not the only way we're meeting those skills needs', he added. 'If you think about the tremendous gaps we've got in the skills pipeline in construction, in engineering, defence, that's the reason why the wider sectors that we've picked for the strategy have these packages in there. 'We are vulnerable when the whole world wants these things. I feel previous governments have assumed it doesn't matter if we make anything in the UK – I think that's wrong.' Mr Reynolds said that 'the country has failed' the almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds who are currently classed as Neet. There is 'not just an economic argument' but 'a moral one as well', he said, adding that 'it's a tragedy' if people aren't getting the right opportunities. He backed the proposed £5 billion cuts to benefits, over which No 10 is facing a big Labour rebellion, arguing that 'we've got to be addressing these issues'. 'No young person, unless they obviously have a significant disability or are genuinely not in a position to work, should be choosing or [be] in a position where they're not going into employment or education or training,' he said. 'I go around, it doesn't matter whether it's creative industries, advanced manufacturing, services, energy, and think I'd love my kids to work in any of these sectors. 'I think the number of young people who are Neet is appalling. I don't know how we've allowed that to happen.' Mr Reynolds said the industrial strategy should be judged on whether it helps school leavers 'understand that there are major careers, good jobs for British people'. 'The skills are about new careers for thousands of British people. Business needs that, I think the country needs that,' he said. 'Part of the conversation this week has been about the number of people on disability benefits in the UK, some of whom are in work, I do recognise that. 'But we've we've got to be addressing these issues for business, and we've got to be addressing them for people's lives themselves.' He also insisted that, whilst defending UK industry, the strategy will not represent 'nostalgia for the past' or a 'protectionist and 1970s orientated' approach. The Business Secretary, who has recently struck landmark trade deals with the US and India, said he would take a more cautious approach with China. He said that he has repeatedly brought up the dumping of steel on the global market at below production value in 'candid' discussions with Beijing. 'Whatever people think of the US administration, they have a point on the reciprocity of trade, if one part of the world is producing a lot of what the world makes and doesn't consume itself a reflective share of that,' he said. 'These big global imbalances, this isn't really how the global economy is supposed to function. 'So an obvious thing for us would be, is a country like China willing to let our brilliant service industries operate freely as we allow some countries to operate in the UK? That's a question for China.'
CBC
21-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Young and looking for that first job? Good luck
Economists say the labour market for young Canadians is the worst in years, with many in their teens and early 20s struggling to get that first job.
