In South Africa, June is recognised as Youth Month, a time to celebrate young people and reflect on the challenges they face. One of the most pressing issues facing young South Africans is youth unemployment, which remains a critical and deeply unfair challenge, particularly in the mining industry.
The industry is losing jobs while simultaneously in need of fresh talent. Over the past few years, the mining sector has eliminated over 440,000 positions, a significant hardship for employees and the communities reliant on this vital industry. At the same time, there is a critical lack of skilled young workers, highlighting a concerning gap between available opportunities and accessibility.
In a media statement that was released on March 12, 2025, the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) expressed grave concern over ongoing retrenchments and the imminent shutdown of operations, such as those at ArcelorMittal, which threaten thousands of jobs. This “bloodbath” of job losses highlights the instability of employment in mining, but it also raises a critical question: If the industry is losing jobs, why is it simultaneously struggling to absorb youth into its workforce?
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South Africa’s youth unemployment rate is staggering, with 8.4 million young people officially out of work as of mid-2024. The mining sector, traditionally viewed as an old-school industry, is evolving rapidly, requiring fresh talent to fill critical skills gaps in engineering, mechanics, safety and sustainability, amongst others. It’s a frustrating cycle for young people: without experience, they can’t get hired, and without a job, they can’t gain experience. This vicious cycle effectively shuts out many eager and capable youth from proving themselves in mining roles.
The unfairness lies in this systemic barrier that denies young South Africans a chance to demonstrate their potential. Apprenticeships and internships are not mere formalities but essential pathways to break into the industry. Several initiatives aim to bridge this gap, but the scale and urgency of youth unemployment demand more robust and widespread action.
According to Government news, government initiatives, like the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) and the Labour Activation Programme (LAP), demonstrate potential by generating thousands of job openings and internships, particularly in mining and related sectors. The LAP alone has launched projects worth over R779 million, expected to stimulate nearly 27,000 jobs, with a strong focus on skills development and ensuring that post-training unemployment is minimised. These programs emphasise the importance of partnerships between the government, the private sector, and communities to create sustainable employment pathways.
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However, despite these initiatives, the mining sector’s inability to absorb youth raises questions about its sustainability and commitment to transformation. The industry must move beyond words and actively dismantle barriers that prevent young people from entering and thriving in mining careers. This includes creating more apprenticeship opportunities, investing in youth skills development, and creating an inclusive culture that values the contributions of young workers, and giving the youth a chance in mining to prove themselves without doubting them.
Youth unemployment crisis in South Africa is not only an economic issue but a profound injustice, particularly in mining. The sector’s call for youth talent must be matched by genuine opportunities for young people to prove themselves without doubt. One can’t help but ask: Is the mining industry failing to fully utilise mining education, and does this reflect a broader systemic failure to integrate young people meaningfully? Can the sector, as well as South Africa’s economy, truly thrive without breaking this cycle of youth exclusion? What will it take to give the youth the chance they deserve to contribute, innovate, and help build a sustainable future?