Graduation is a moment of arrival, a first exciting step into adulthood, independence and the beginning of a career. But for many young South Africans, once the cap is tossed and the gown folded away, the celebration is quickly shadowed by reality.
Almost half (46,1%) of all youth aged 15-34 are unemployed (Q1: 2025), and even a hard-earned degree no longer guarantees entry into the workforce. Now artificial intelligence (AI) adds another layer of doubt: will the careers young people have studied or trained for still be waiting, or will technology move faster than their opportunities?
That anxiety is not unfounded, says Nkosinathi Mahlangu, youth employment specialist at the Momentum Group Foundation. Across industries, AI systems are beginning to assume tasks once done by entry-level professionals. Algorithms can now scan contracts, generate reports, comb through datasets, and even write computer code. These are precisely the kinds of duties that often formed the training ground for young graduates.
“With those stepping-stone tasks increasingly automated, Mahlangu says, “the pathway into work is narrowing just as more young people arrive at its entrance.”
But this is not the first time people have feared being pushed aside by technology. When computers arrived in offices and automation spread across factory floors, there were predictions of mass job losses. In reality, most jobs changed rather than disappeared, while new positions arose from the introduction of those same technologies.
Mahlangu anticipates the same now. “AI will not take jobs but enhance certain areas while bringing about new opportunities to upskill for the workforce and job seekers,” he says.
He points to financial advice as an example. While ‘robo advice’ and online platforms selling insurance products are on the rise, many people still turn to a financial adviser when they want a more human, nuanced view or a financial plan tailored to their unique circumstances. In the same way, he argues, AI is likely to change how jobs are done, not wipe them out altogether. Still, he warns against complacency.
“AI-related career paths need to be introduced at high school level and reflected in tertiary courses,” he notes.
“Without closer alignment between classrooms and industry, graduates risk entering the market with outdated skills while employers search in vain for the talent they need.”
Training graduates for an AI world
One place where these ideas are already being put into practice is the Faith Mangope Technology and Leadership Institute (FMTALI), a Momentum Group Foundation partner.
Programme coordinator Bongi Zulu says their students train for international certifications in the cloud platform Microsoft Azure, artificial intelligence fundamentals, Java software development, and Microsoft Power BI for data analytics.
These are not abstract skills but practical ones. Just as important, says Zulu, is how the students themselves see the field. “Instead of seeing AI as something too advanced or overwhelming, they see it as an exciting chance to be innovators who will shape the future of technology.”
The results are easy to see. Graduates have gone on to jobs at banks, start-ups and global tech firms. Current students placed in the top four at the Momentum Hackathon, showing not just technical ability but the creativity to solve real problems. For Zulu, these examples prove that “with the right access, AI isn’t something to fear – it’s a way for young people to get their start.”
Closing gaps and creating new jobs
But Zulu is also clear-eyed about the obstacles facing young South Africans. In many communities, laptops, reliable internet, and computer labs are still luxuries. Gender inequality deepens the gap, with young women still underrepresented in IT courses and tech workplaces.
FMTALI tackles these gaps directly by providing hardware, training and spaces where girls are encouraged into leadership roles. “By equipping students with internationally recognised certifications, we give them both the confidence and the tools to compete in the global job market,” Zulu says.
Businesses also need to come to the table, says Mahlangu. Internships, job shadowing and genuine partnerships with training providers can ensure the pipeline from classroom to career does not break down. Too often, he warns, programmes look good on paper but don’t create any sustainable jobs, leaving young talent waiting at the door of industries that claim to need them.
Even with stronger alignment, some jobs are likely to shrink. Administrative functions, routine data processing and entry-level roles in law, accounting or journalism are especially vulnerable. But new roles are opening: cybersecurity analysts, data scientists, machine learning engineers and AI ethics specialists are already in demand. Entrepreneurship is shifting too. For small businesses, AI can act like an extra pair of hands – drafting proposals, managing invoices or answering customer queries – while founders focus on growth.
Still, not every path into work is digital. No AI exists that can rewire a faulty circuit, repair a burst pipe, or install a solar panel. Vocational careers such as plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, mechanics and other trades remain essential, offering young people not only reliable employment but also the chance to build businesses of their own.
For Mahlangu, the throughline is adaptability. “The world of work brings both uncertainty and opportunity, he says. “Being innovative, networking, and even volunteering can open a world of career opportunities.”
For graduates, the message is practical: expect to keep learning long after formal education ends. Zulu echoes this, urging young people to take advantage of any opportunity to start building their AI or tech-related skills – a free course or a webinar can be enough to start. “These are small but powerful ways to immerse yourself in the industry and see what areas resonate most with you,” she shares.
AI will not solve South Africa’s unemployment crisis – but nor will it single-handedly make it worse. If institutions, businesses and policymakers work together, AI can be a bridge rather than a barrier. For young South Africans, the real choice is not whether the technology is coming – it is how they step forward to shape the future alongside it.