Abstract
The socio-economic landscape of South Africa is significantly impacted by youth unemployment, which is a deep-seated challenge that contributes to poverty, inequality, and social instability. Despite the implementation of numerous macroeconomic initiatives to stimulate growth, the economy has not yet achieved the necessary growth level to adequately address poverty and unemployment. Unemployment, as a pandemic therefore necessitates a multifaceted strategy that addresses the structural and systemic obstacles that young individuals encounter in the labour market. Not only does employment provide economic support, but it also promotes human dignity by enabling individuals to develop their autonomy and capabilities, as well as by providing them with the resources to construct their own lives and make positive contributions to their communities.
The primary objective of the study was to enhance comprehension of public-private partnerships, with a particular emphasis on the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, following a qualitative research approach using a single case study as the research design. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with YES participants and alumni from the implementation partner Youth@worK NPC to gather primary data. The participant's perspectives and comprehension of the programme were recorded and transcribed for analysis. The researcher then employed thematic data analysis, which involved the coding of data and the identification of themes. Themes were subsequently interpreted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the YES programme's role in fostering youth economic empowerment in South Africa.
The study's findings indicate the benefits and difficulties encountered by the YES programme. Significant achievements encompass the programme's capacity to engage private sector involvement and generate substantial employment opportunities for the youth. Nonetheless, issues like scalability, post-programme employment sustainability, and geographical discrepancies with regard to opportunities persist as areas requiring enhancement. The study further provided an insight on optimising public-private partnerships, to effectively tackle youth unemployment and enhance economic empowerment on a large scale. Strategies for fortifying the partnership model, improving skills development frameworks, and guaranteeing fair access to opportunities are examined,
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with the objective of supporting national initiatives for inclusive economic growth. The primary conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that public-private partnerships have a greater potential of providing long-term solutions to address the issue of youth economic empowerment in South Africa. As a result, it is recommended that government formulate policies to channel Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts into funding entrepreneurial development programmes through the YES programme. Additionally, there is a greater need for increased awareness about the programme.
Key concepts: Public and Private Partnerships, Economic Empowerment, Youth, Youth Employment Service, Unemployment.