According to Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Youth Employment Specialist at Momentum Group Foundation, while these roles offer short-term financial relief, they are neither stable nor sustainable, seldom leading to permanent employment or meaningful career progression.
Most festive jobs do little to equip young people with the vital skills required for long-term success, leaving them vulnerable to the same cycle of insecurity once the season ends. Mahlangu added that geographic isolation and limited transport options make it difficult for young people outside urban centres to access even these fleeting opportunities.
“Each short-term contract that ends without a pathway forward chips away at the aspirations of our youth, entrenching cycles of poverty and dependency,” said Mahlangu. “When January comes, these opportunities vanish almost as quickly as they appeared, leaving most young workers back where they started; facing the daunting reality of unemployment.”
The reality is at a crisis point; with unemployment of young persons, aged 15–34 years, at an alarming 42.7%, millions of young South Africans, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, find traditional routes to stable work increasingly out of reach.
He warns that this pattern is not merely an economic dilemma; it represents a profound crisis of hope. The persistent lack of meaningful employment prospects erodes the aspirations of a generation, demonstrating that without fundamental change, seasonal work will never be enough to address the deeper challenges facing South Africa’s youth.
“Redirecting the same resources into structured programmes that equip young people with scarce, critical skills would transform this stop-gap into a springboard for enduring growth,” Mahlangu added. “Employers, having offered minimal development, are similarly short-changed in that the knowledge gained by their seasonal teams departs with them, creating a perpetual cycle of hurried recruitment and thinly spread expertise.”
More so, South African leaders’ meeting recently; under the umbrella of the Government of National Unity (GNU), recognised this very challenge. While acknowledging significant progress over the last 16 months, they agreed that the pace and impact of change must accelerate. Among the urgent priorities identified were a comprehensive skills development strategy and the creation of work experience and livelihood opportunities for young people.
Mahlangu believes that combining accredited training with year-round paid placements, corporate South Africa and government can convert seasonal opportunities into sustained careers, while closing vital skills gaps. This way, young employees gain a clear trajectory and employers acquire a pipeline of skilled talent, ensuring the benefits of investing in young people last far beyond the festive season.
“Expanding digital infrastructure, broadband access, affordable connectivity and reliable electricity can be a great equaliser, especially for rural and underserved youth,” he said. “With the right investments, young people in other parts of the country where there is a low-capacity base; including a lack of necessary skills for economic development, could have the same access to global work opportunities as their peers in Johannesburg or Cape Town.”
However, infrastructure is only one side of the coin. Without targeted skills development, connectivity alone will not translate into opportunity.
Mahlangu highlighted that, since 2019, the Momentum Group Foundation has invested around R 71 million in youth employment initiatives across seven provinces. During this period, 2 234 young people have been trained, 1 540 placed in jobs and 84 entrepreneurs supported by the Foundation. Echoing the Foundation’s 2024 impact assessment, he emphasised that collaboration between corporate South Africa, civil society and government is crucial to driving effective initiatives to tackle youth unemployment.
“Young people need training in digital literacy, coding, data analysis, online business management and other future-oriented skills. We must equip them with a solid foundation in accounting and the ability to evaluate financial data and identify emerging trends,” he said. “Equally important is providing mentorship, exposure to real-world projects, and support in developing digital portfolios that can open doors to international markets. By investing in these areas, we can nurture talented young minds who have the potential to become the financial advisers and wealth managers of today and tomorrow.”
Mahlangu said that the GNU’s recent commitment to a far-reaching skills and work experience strategy is encouraging. But to be truly impactful, Corporate South Africa has a unique role to play; by investing in digital skills programmes, supporting remote internships and championing inclusive procurement policies, they can help build an ecosystem that nurtures young talent sustainably.
“Young people must know that their future is not limited to seasonal work or to the boundaries of their villages and city,” he concluded. “The digital economy is borderless and with the right tools and support, they can compete and thrive on a global stage. Our young people could use this opportunity to move beyond seasonal hope and build a future of lasting possibility.”
