SA youth@WORK Skills Development Programmes: Opportunities for Young South Africans to Gain Work Experience

Young South Africans looking for ways to gain work experience, workplace skills and exposure to different industries can explore the opportunities provided through Youth @ Work 

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youth@WORK is focused on connecting young people with businesses and creating structured work opportunities that allow participants to gain practical experience while contributing to the growth of small businesses. The organisation says its model is designed to build both youth potential and small-business capacity. 

What Is youth@WORK?

youth@WORK is a South African youth employment organisation that connects young people with businesses that need additional capacity.

Rather than focusing only on placing young people into jobs, the organisation describes its approach as using funded youth employment to help small businesses grow while young people earn income, gain experience and develop skills. 

The organisation has been operating since 2019 and has supported thousands of young people through structured work opportunities. In a September 2026 update, youth@WORK reported that it had placed more than 17,000 young people into structured work opportunities since 2019 and supported almost 2,600 small businesses. 

youth@WORK Skills Development Opportunities

The programmes and initiatives associated with youth@WORK can provide young people with more than workplace exposure. Participants can also receive support designed to improve their readiness for employment and future career opportunities.

Some areas of development include:

• Workplace readiness
• Professional communication
• Digital skills
• Business and administration skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Industry-specific work experience
• Career development
• LinkedIn and professional profile development
• Labour-law awareness
• Mentoring and workplace support

The organisation says its monthly online learning sessions cover topics such as workplace readiness, labour law, entrepreneurship and LinkedIn profiles, while its Think Tank Thursday sessions expose young people to industry leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and specialists discussing the future of work. 

Work Experience for Young South Africans

One of the biggest benefits of participating in a structured youth employment programme is the opportunity to gain experience that can be added to a CV.

Many entry-level vacancies require candidates to demonstrate workplace experience. A structured placement can help young people develop practical skills such as:

• Working as part of a team
• Communicating with colleagues and customers
• Following workplace procedures
• Managing tasks and deadlines
• Using digital workplace tools
• Understanding professional conduct
• Solving workplace problems
• Working under supervision

The youth@WORK model matches young people with the operational needs of participating businesses, while providing employment administration, support and performance management. 

Examples of Skills Development Programmes

1. Workplace Readiness

Workplace readiness is an important part of preparing young people for their first professional opportunity.

Through its support activities, youth@WORK helps participants understand what is expected in a workplace and how to navigate their first employment experience.

Topics can include professional behaviour, communication, workplace expectations and career development. 

2. Digital Skills Development

Digital skills are increasingly important across South African workplaces.

youth@WORK has also been involved in digital skills initiatives. One example is its Learnio Digital Marketing Pilot Project, a 12-week online programme covering digital marketing fundamentals, social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, email marketing, digital advertising, analytics and AI tools for digital marketing. 

The pilot also included a progression into freelancing training, giving graduates an opportunity to learn how to build professional profiles and market their services.

3. Entrepreneurship Development

Entrepreneurship is another area covered through youth@WORK's learning and development activities.

The organisation's regular learning sessions include entrepreneurship-related topics, while its broader model recognises entrepreneurship and self-employment as possible pathways for young people after gaining workplace experience. 

4. Education and Teaching Experience

youth@WORK has also implemented programmes specifically supporting young people interested in education.

Its youthPROFILER Education Programme recruits, trains and employs education graduates and aspiring teachers as Learner Profilers. Participants work in ECD centres and primary schools in Gauteng, where they conduct assessments and support learners with literacy and numeracy interventions. 

According to youth@WORK, the programme has trained and employed 14 Learner Profilers and supported more than 15,000 learners across Gauteng schools and ECD centres. 

Who Can Benefit From youth@WORK Opportunities?

The programmes are particularly relevant to young South Africans who:

• Are looking for their first workplace opportunity
• Need practical experience for their CV
• Want to improve their employability
• Want to develop workplace skills
• Are interested in entrepreneurship
• Want to explore different industries
• Need exposure to professional working environments
• Want to build confidence before entering the job market

Specific eligibility requirements can differ depending on the particular programme, employer, funder or placement. Therefore, applicants should always check the requirements of the specific opportunity before applying.

How youth@WORK Supports Participants

A key feature of the youth@WORK model is that support continues beyond simply matching a young person with a business.

The organisation says it provides systems covering recruitment, onboarding, payroll, compliance, attendance, learning, wellness and performance management. It also provides ongoing engagement and support through its teams and digital platforms. 

This approach is intended to help young people successfully navigate their first work experience.

Opportunities Across Different Industries

Youth@WORK's programmes are not limited to one career field.

The organisation reported that its placements have expanded beyond education into sectors including ICT, automotive, manufacturing and services. 

This provides young people with opportunities to gain exposure to different parts of the economy and develop transferable skills.

How to Apply for SA youth@WORK Opportunities

Young people interested in opportunities should visit the official youth@WORK Youth page and follow the available registration or application instructions.

Visit the official youth@WORK Youth page

Applicants should keep the following ready where required:

• An updated CV
• South African identity document
• Educational certificates or qualifications
• Accurate contact details
• Information about previous work experience, if applicable
• Any additional documents requested for the specific opportunity

It is important to check each opportunity carefully because eligibility, location, duration and application requirements may differ.

Why Young People Should Consider Skills Development Programmes

A skills development programme can be an important stepping stone for someone who has completed school, college or university but is struggling to secure their first opportunity.

The combination of work experience, skills development, mentorship and professional exposure can help participants become more competitive when applying for future jobs.

youth@WORK's reported results also indicate that structured youth employment can lead to longer-term opportunities. In its 2026 reporting, the organisation said 20% of participants secure permanent employment within the SMEs where they were placed, while 17% of alumni pursue entrepreneurship or self-employment. sayouthatwork.com

The SA youth@WORK skills development programmes provide young South Africans with opportunities to enter the workplace, develop practical skills and gain valuable experience.

The organisation's approach combines youth employment with small-business development, meaning that young people gain workplace exposure while participating businesses receive additional capacity to grow.

If you are a young person looking for work experience, skills development or a pathway into employment, it is worth checking the official youth@WORK platform regularly for current opportunities.

Important: Programme availability, eligibility criteria, placement locations and application requirements can change. Always confirm the latest information directly on the official youth@WORK website before applying.