Honourable House Chairperson,
As we commemorate youth day, the ACDP is keenly aware of the growing shift of economies worldwide, moving to artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation and the effect this could have on our youth.
As this shift accelerates, South African youth face an urgent challenge – youth unemployment is over 62 per cent for ages 15 to 24, while the expanded unemployment rate exceeds 43%. Without proactive intervention, automation will further displace young workers, unless there is rapid re-skilling or absorption into labour-intensive industries.
While many sectors are embracing automation, many remain labour-intensive and unlikely to be fully automated. Agriculture and agro-processing will still require human labour for crop harvesting, livestock care, and artisanal food production. Healthcare, social services and construction work demands problem-solving skills that automation cannot easily replicate.
With the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the ACDP urges government to act swiftly, to beneficiate our raw materials and capitalise on manufacturing, agro-processing, and skills development. The value of Africa’s food and beverage market alone, is projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, presenting a critical opportunity for labour-intensive economic growth, which must include Africa’s youth.
Honourable House Chairperson, by 2035, South Africa must generate 7.4 million jobs to accommodate its expanding workforce. The ACDP positions that a dual-track education system, like Germany’s, should be used to improve employability, by tailoring pathways for students to pursue vocational or academic careers. Additionally, extra-mural skills programs must accelerate youth preparedness for emerging industries, ensuring that marginalised communities benefit from 4IR advancements.
Our current system still fails to equip school-leavers with relevant skills, leading to a widening gap between education supply and employer demands.
Before automation significantly disrupts labour markets, the Biblical, Kingdom economic policies of the ACDP, if implemented, will boost manufacturing and labour-intensive industries, ensuring economic inclusion and sustainable employment for young people in South Africa.
I thank you.
