The Emerging Landscape of Green Jobs for Youth in South Africa’s Just Transition
This podcast conversation explores the intersection of youth employment and the just energy transition (JET) in South Africa, focusing on the rise of green jobs and the green economy. It highlights the opportunities, challenges, and enabling environments for young people in emerging sectors driven by climate action, technological advancement, and shifts in traditional industries like mining and coal power.
The discussion features 3 experts working on policy, skills development, and youth employment interventions - Ms Baba-Tamana Gqabule, Ms Mapaseka Setlhodi and Ms Lindiwe Johnson. They emphasize that green jobs are not solely about brand-new roles but also include transforming existing ones, particularly in installation, maintenance, energy efficiency, and the circular economy. The panelists also underline the importance of acknowledging a broad spectrum of green-related work, including social and care economy roles that support communities affected by industrial shifts.
Key barriers include a lack of visibility on actual job demand, fragmentation of initiatives, insufficient communication between stakeholders, and the difficulty young people experience in aligning education and skills with emerging opportunities. Despite these challenges, young people demonstrate significant enthusiasm and active participation in various initiatives, though many still face systemic obstacles such as limited access to funding and non-inclusive hiring practices.
The conversation concludes with a call for better coordination among government, private sector, and civil society, greater visibility of opportunities, enhanced skills development aligned to labor market demands, and youth agency in advocating for and shaping the just transition. Practical steps include utilizing existing youth platforms, engaging in community projects, and acquiring funding literacy to scale green youth enterprises.
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