Youth unemployment starts in the cradle: why early childhood development matters
Youth unemployment in South Africa does not begin when a young person leaves school; many of its causes can be traced back to a child's earliest years. Afrika Tikkun argues that early childhood development (ECD) should be seen as an investment in the country's future workforce.
The conversation often starts too late
When we talk about South Africa's youth unemployment crisis, the conversation usually focuses on young people entering the labour market. We debate skills shortages, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and job creation. These are important discussions, but they often start too late.
The reality is that youth unemployment does not begin when a young person leaves school or graduates from university. It begins much earlier. Long before a CV is written or a job interview is attended, the foundations for future success are already being shaped.
Every year, we are confronted by statistics that highlight the scale of youth unemployment in South Africa. The numbers are alarming, but they should not surprise us. What should concern us even more is that many of the factors contributing to these outcomes can be traced back to a child's earliest years.
Early childhood development builds future employability
The science is clear. Early Childhood Development (ECD) plays a critical role in shaping cognitive development, emotional resilience, social skills, confidence and a child's ability to learn. These are not simply developmental milestones; they are the building blocks of future employability. When children receive the right support in their early years, they are better equipped to succeed at school, navigate challenges, and eventually participate meaningfully in the economy.
"We cannot continue to focus solely on interventions at the end of the pipeline while neglecting the beginning." – Marc Lubner, Group CEO, Afrika Tikkun
ECD is an economic imperative
Yet ECD is still too often viewed as a social welfare intervention rather than an economic imperative.
If we are serious about addressing unemployment, we need to start seeing ECD for what it truly is: an investment in South Africa's future workforce. The children attending ECD programmes today are the entrepreneurs, artisans, teachers, engineers, healthcare workers, and leaders of tomorrow. Their success will determine the success of our economy.
Building on a strong foundation
This requires a shift in how we think about solutions. We cannot continue to focus solely on interventions at the end of the pipeline while neglecting the beginning. Skills development programmes, youth employment initiatives, and workplace opportunities remain essential, but they are most effective when built on a strong foundation established in early childhood.
A shared responsibility
The responsibility does not rest with government alone. Business, civil society, educators, communities, and families all have a role to play. Creating sustainable pathways to employment requires collective action and a shared understanding that the journey begins far earlier than many of us realise.
As we continue searching for solutions to South Africa's unemployment crisis, perhaps we need to ask a different question. Instead of asking how we prepare young people for work, we should also be asking how we prepare children for lifelong learning, growth and opportunity.
Because the future of work is not shaped when a young person enters the labour market. It is shaped in the earliest years of life.
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa's most pressing challenges. What investments do you believe will have the greatest long-term impact on creating sustainable opportunities for future generations?