Tag: JobCreation
SME finance – the R386 billion growth question?
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) cannot grow without access to funding, and South Africa needs its SMEs to grow. What needs to change in the middle? The frame for South Africa’s economic growth in 2026 is one of modest recovery. The National Treasury’s 2026 Budget Review projects real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of around 1.6%. The World Bank echoes these figures, at 1.4%, and expects growth to increase to 1.5% by 2027.
Responsible entrepreneurship – is capital only the beginning?
In a tough economic environment where capital is scarce, we continue to back responsible entrepreneurs who build sustainable, high-impact businesses that create opportunity and resilience in South Africa. We have released our 2025 Impact Report. The report outlines the organisation's work in backing responsible entrepreneurs, supporting portfolio resilience and contributing to economic inclusion through a long-term investment model.
The real employment challenge is alignment, not job creation
We know where the jobs are, and we know our young people are eager to work. So why aren’t we connecting the dots? South Africa has 200,000 agricultural jobs waiting to be filled. We also have a thriving Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. This sector includes call centres, customer service, data processing and back-office administration. It can absorb entry-level workers at scale.
The unemployment crisis – jobs exist, skills don’t
Rising unemployment, growing labour underutilisation and deepening skills mismatches continue to expose a widening disconnect between available jobs and workplace-ready talent in South Africa. As a result, the unemployment crisis is no longer only about job scarcity. It now also reflects serious workforce-readiness challenges.
Laser-focused job creation could transform the country
Two remarkable economic turnarounds demonstrate what becomes possible when countries support the right sectors, develop relevant skills and strengthen cooperation between government and business. We exist to create genuine and lasting economic opportunities for young South Africans. We constantly evaluate where we invest, what we support and why those decisions matter.
Zambia’s mining expansion and immigration drive growth
Zambia’s mining sector is once again in the global spotlight. The Lumwana Mine stands at the forefront of the country’s renewed push to expand copper production and drive economic growth. This momentum reflects the broader Zambia mining expansion strategy.
SMEs and SONA’s support – all eyes now on the national...
As South Africa prepares for the National Budget Speech later this month, attention is turning to whether government commitments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive fiscal support and implementation details. These elements are required to unlock real economic impact.
Skills development matters – bridging training with job opportunities
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Stats SA shows South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 1.7% from Q1 of 2025. It now stands at 33.2% for Q2. This may not seem like a large jump, but it translates to 140,000 people. Even a slight rise in unemployment, therefore, has a real impact.
