“We cannot afford to continue losing this potential to unemployment. The time to act is now.”

He said this in reaction to the latest unemployment figures, which reveal a deepening jobs crisis and makes partnerships between the education and private sectors no longer a nice-to-have. They are essential to South Africa’s future.

According to Statistics South Africa’s Q1 2025 Labour Force Survey, the official unemployment rate has risen to 32.9%, while the expanded definition of unemployment, which includes discouraged job seekers, now sits at a staggering 43.1%.

The youth are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Among young South Africans aged 15–24, 59.4% are unemployed — the highest of any age group. These sobering statistics highlight the urgency of meaningful workplace exposure for learners and graduates.

One of the most impactful ways to combat youth unemployment is through structured work-based learning. Internships and learnerships, particularly those linked to TVET colleges, offer students exposure to real working environments – something that a classroom alone cannot deliver.

NADA and its members have been active supporters of these initiatives, with many franchised dealers already partnering with educational institutions to host students, offer mentorship and provide job placements. However, Thembinkosi says this needs to happen on a much larger scale.

“The automotive sector – especially franchised dealers – are uniquely positioned to absorb learners, mentor them and develop the kind of skills that are in short supply across the country,” he adds.

NADA is calling on automotive employers, education authorities and policymakers to ramp up support for workplace learning models, which include expanding funding for stipends, streamlining partnerships between colleges and dealerships and recognising employers that meaningfully contribute to skills development.

“Dealerships that invest in learnerships and mentorship are not just fulfilling a social mandate; they’re investing in the future of their own businesses. Technicians, service advisors, parts specialists and salespeople all require practical, hands-on experience to thrive,” he says.

In a country where almost 6 out of 10 youngsters are unemployed, every opportunity to gain experience matters. It’s time to connect the dots between education and employment and drive real change from the ground up, NADA states.