{"id":818098,"date":"2025-03-27T08:37:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T06:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=818098"},"modified":"2025-03-27T08:38:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T06:38:00","slug":"addressing-youth-unemployment-requires-a-collective-effort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/industry-news\/818098\/addressing-youth-unemployment-requires-a-collective-effort\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing youth unemployment requires a collective effort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><sub>Image caption: Greg Solomon McDonald\u2019s South Africa\u2019s Chief Executive Officer with Bridget Lawrence, Sunny Mafigu, Simuphiwe Mashazi, Tshepiso Morakabe, Prince Tshabalala, Katlego Lebese, Thuli Zulu, Leliana Alberto and Thapelo Mamabolo.<\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the ways McDonald&#8217;s South Africa has seen a positive impact in addressing youth unemployment is through its partnership with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, we are training over 1,400 young people through a Learnership Programme, which combines classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience, equipping them with the skills needed for the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa\u2019s youth unemployment crisis is one of the most urgent challenges we face today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With over 60% of young people unable to find work, the social and economic implications are profound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcdonalds.co.za\/cathsseta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to learn more about the McDonalds South Africa and CATHSSETA partnership.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This staggering statistic represents millions of untapped potential and a generation struggling to secure a foothold in the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The private sector has the resources, expertise, and reach to make a significant impact; it is both a moral and economic imperative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, it\u2019s good for business and youthful creativity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A skilled, employed youth population is essential for building a sustainable and inclusive economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The challenge is great, but so is the opportunity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Initiatives like our CATHSSETA partnership programme demonstrate what can be achieved when the private sector steps up to tackle youth unemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, addressing this crisis requires more than just isolated efforts &#8211; it demands a collective approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses, educational institutions, and government must work together to create opportunities, invest in skills development, and empower young people to build sustainable futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The issue of youth unemployment is deeply rooted in systemic challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research shows that many young people, particularly those from low-income communities, are trapped in jobs that offer little dignity or opportunity for advancement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These jobs often fail to provide future financial security, career growth, or the respect that workers deserve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, many young people leave these roles, not out of laziness or lack of ambition, but because they aspire to more stability, more respect, and more opportunities to build a better future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are of course other aspects to inclusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our partnership with Job Abled to recruit individuals with disabilities and facilitate job-shadowing opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This initiative offers learners invaluable workplace experience, with the ultimate goal of securing future employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-818104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T141732.078.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sub>Greg Solomon, Chief Executive Officer, McDonald\u2019s South Africa<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its inception in 2019, this partnership has played a key role in providing practical skills and improving employability for individuals who may otherwise face additional barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of this collaboration, we cover placement fees, ensuring that participants receive the support they need to succeed in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The scale of the youth unemployment crisis demands urgent and sustained action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there is no single solution, there are steps that businesses can take to make a meaningful impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing in skills development, creating quality job opportunities, and fostering partnerships with training authorities are just a few examples of how the private sector can contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every small step collectively adds to a massive impact. If we change this unfortunate situation, we significantly impact the future of our country positively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s our legacy. It\u2019s our responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>By Greg Solomon, Chief Executive Officer, McDonald\u2019s South Africa<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcdonalds.co.za\/cathsseta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to learn more about the McDonalds South Africa and CATHSSETA partnership.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>McDonalds South Africa addresses youth unemployment through its partnership with CATHSSETA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":818100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[3886,3651],"class_list":["post-818098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-mcdonalds","tag-unemployment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818098"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":818404,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818098\/revisions\/818404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/818100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}