South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis has long been described as one of the country’s greatest economic and social challenges. Every year, thousands of graduates and school leavers enter the job market with hopes of finding work, only to face limited opportunities, fierce competition, and one common obstacle: employers want experience, but many young people have no way to gain it.
Against this backdrop, telecommunications company Telkom is making a significant investment in developing the country’s future workforce. Through its RT15 ICT Skills Learnership Programme, the company has invested more than R85 million over the past five years to provide accredited information and communications technology (ICT) training, workplace experience and employment opportunities to more than 1,100 unemployed young South Africans.
The latest milestone in the programme saw more than 150 young people receive nationally recognised ICT qualifications, adding to the growing number of graduates who have completed the initiative since it was launched. While the investment alone cannot solve South Africa’s unemployment crisis, it reflects a growing recognition that skills development and workplace experience are critical if young people are to compete in an increasingly digital economy.
The announcement comes as South Africa continues to battle exceptionally high levels of youth unemployment. According to labour market figures referenced by the Telkom Foundation, the unemployment rate among people aged 15 to 34 reached 45.8% during the first quarter of 2026. For young people between the ages of 15 and 24, the situation is even more difficult, with unemployment standing at nearly 61%.
These figures represent more than statistics. They reflect the reality faced by millions of South Africans who continue searching for work despite completing school, tertiary education, or vocational training. Many remain unemployed not because they lack ambition, but because they struggle to gain the practical experience employers increasingly expect from new recruits.
The challenge has become particularly evident in industries undergoing rapid digital transformation. Businesses across sectors such as banking, telecommunications, healthcare, logistics, retail and government are investing in new technologies and digital services, increasing demand for employees with ICT knowledge and technical skills. However, many young people have limited access to specialised digital training or opportunities to apply those skills in real working environments.
It is this gap that Telkom’s RT15 ICT Skills Learnership Programme aims to address.
Rather than focusing solely on classroom-based learning, the programme combines accredited technical education with structured workplace experience. Every year, approximately 210 unemployed young people from different parts of South Africa are selected to participate in the learnership, giving them the opportunity to build practical skills while working alongside employers.
Participants complete National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 and Level 5 qualifications accredited by the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA). The curriculum focuses on areas where demand for skilled workers continues to grow, including systems development, business analysis, telecommunications networks, and marketing.
Unlike many short-term training programmes, the learnership is designed to expose participants to real workplace environments. Through placements with host employers, learners gain hands-on industry experience while applying the technical knowledge acquired during their studies. This practical component is often regarded as one of the programme’s greatest strengths, as it helps participants develop professional skills, understand workplace expectations and build experience that can strengthen future job applications.
For many young South Africans, gaining this first opportunity can be transformative. One of the biggest barriers to employment is the expectation that candidates already have work experience. Learnerships help overcome this challenge by allowing participants to earn recognised qualifications while simultaneously building employment histories and professional networks.
The programme forms part of Telkom’s broader commitment to developing South Africa’s digital workforce and supporting economic inclusion. It is delivered under a five-year Supplier Development and Localisation Programme established in partnership with National Treasury. The initiative seeks not only to improve digital skills but also to strengthen local supplier development, encourage enterprise growth and create sustainable employment pathways for young South Africans.
The latest graduating class has already produced encouraging outcomes.
According to Telkom, 22 graduates have secured permanent or temporary employment, while two participants have continued their studies to further develop their qualifications. Another graduate has gone on to establish a business, demonstrating how skills development programmes can also encourage entrepreneurship rather than employment alone.
Although these figures account for only a portion of the graduating cohort, they provide an indication of how structured learnerships can help young people transition from unemployment into meaningful economic participation.
Beyond the immediate employment outcomes, programmes such as RT15 contribute to addressing South Africa’s wider digital skills shortage. As businesses continue adopting cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and advanced telecommunications technologies, demand for digitally skilled employees continues to rise. Many employers report difficulty finding suitably qualified candidates with both technical expertise and practical workplace experience.
Developing these skills locally not only helps improve employment prospects for young people but also supports South Africa’s broader economic competitiveness. A workforce equipped with digital capabilities is increasingly viewed as essential for attracting investment, supporting innovation, and enabling businesses to compete in a technology-driven global economy.
The initiative also highlights the growing role that private sector investment can play alongside government efforts to address unemployment. While public employment programmes remain important, partnerships between businesses, training providers and government institutions have become increasingly necessary to expand access to skills development opportunities at scale.
For many participants, the programme represents more than an academic qualification. It provides exposure to professional environments, industry mentorship, workplace confidence and practical experience that may otherwise have been difficult to obtain. These are often the qualities employers consider when making hiring decisions, particularly for entry-level positions.
Young people from rural communities and townships frequently face additional barriers, including limited internet access, fewer educational resources, and reduced exposure to technology careers. By opening access to accredited ICT training and workplace placements, initiatives such as RT15 aim to create opportunities for young people regardless of their background.
South Africa’s transition towards a more digital economy means ICT skills are becoming increasingly valuable across almost every sector. Whether in telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, education, or public administration, digital literacy and technical expertise are no longer niche skills but essential workplace requirements.
While one learnership programme cannot reverse decades of structural unemployment, Telkom’s R85 million investment demonstrates how targeted skills development can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young South Africans. More importantly, it reinforces the idea that tackling unemployment requires more than creating jobs alone; it also requires equipping people with the skills, experience, and confidence needed to seize those opportunities when they arise.
As South Africa continues searching for practical solutions to one of its most persistent economic challenges, investments in digital skills development may prove to be one of the country’s most valuable long-term assets. For the more than 1,100 young people who have already benefited from the programme, that investment represents not only new qualifications but also a pathway towards sustainable employment and greater participation in South Africa’s digital future.
