A number of solutions to youth unemployment have been explored by the South African government in the past decade. The focus has been primarily on supply-side efforts to increase young peoples’ qualifications and give them more marketable skills.

These publicly funded programs have two stated goals:

1. Offering “employment in the provision of essential basic services to vulnerable South Africans”

2. Providing “income while additional skills are developed, thereby improving future employability” (Oosthuizen & Cassim).

Example programs include:

• Community Works Program

• National Rural Youth Service Corps (NRYSC)

• National Youth Development Agency 

While some of these programs have been successful, the government should focus on stimulating demand for young workers by providing incentives for companies to hire young people and begin apprenticeship programs.