Bold Shift Toward Jobs-First Strategy as Graduate Unemployment Reaches Critical Levels
CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay says “One Graduate, One Placement” campaign reframes skills development around real employment outcomes, not just training credentials.
With youth unemployment soaring past 60%, CHIETA’s “One Graduate, One Placement” campaign reframes skills development around real employment outcomes, not just training credentials.
South Africa’s labour market is reaching a breaking point, with structural unemployment tightening its grip on economic participation—especially among young people. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate hovered around 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, a stark reminder of the economic pressures confronting households nationwide.
Even more concerning is the reality facing young people: over 60% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 remain unemployed, highlighting the widening divide between educational achievement and access to meaningful work.
Against this backdrop, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is intensifying its “One Graduate, One Placement” campaign—a bold, outcomes-driven initiative designed to close the distance between qualifications and employment.
This campaign marks a decisive shift in CHIETA’s approach. Instead of measuring success through the number of graduates trained, CHIETA is prioritising what truly matters: full‑time placements, sustainable work opportunities, and stronger employer partnerships.
CHIETA Chief Executive Officer Yershen Pillay says the country can no longer afford the persistent disconnect between education systems and economic realities.
“South Africa continues to produce qualified graduates, yet too many remain excluded from meaningful work. This is not simply a youth unemployment issue. It is a structural economic inclusion challenge. We must strengthen collaboration between SETAs, employers and training providers to ensure that qualifications translate into sustainable employment. A certificate alone does not transform a life. A job does,” Pillay said.
With economic growth slowing to between 1% and 1.5% in recent years, employer absorption has weakened, compounding the pressure on new entrants to the labour market. CHIETA believes that coordinated action across the skills ecosystem is essential to prevent graduates from falling into long‑term unemployment.
Through its revitalised campaign, CHIETA is shining a spotlight on success stories, scaling partnerships with industry, and urging organisations across sectors to expand graduate placements. The message is clear: South Africa must pivot from training as a tick‑box exercise to placement as the core measure of impact.
One powerful example is Tashriefah Wilson, who completed an NQF Level 4 qualification as a Chemical Plant Operator through CHIETA support and secured full‑time employment at Jatun Paints in the Western Cape. Her journey demonstrates what becomes possible when training providers and employers collaborate with purpose.
“It is one graduate off the street and into a decent job. One life changed. One family supported. But beyond the individual, it strengthens economic participation and restores confidence in the skills development system,” Pillay added.
The campaign also aligns with CHIETA’s expanded support for retrenched workers. More than 350 retrenched workers have already transitioned into new employment opportunities, with a target of 1 000 placements by December 2026.
Pillay emphasises that tackling unemployment requires redefining what success looks like within South Africa’s skills ecosystem.
“If we are serious about economic transformation, we must measure outcomes in terms of livelihoods secured, not programmes completed. Sustainable growth depends on integrating skilled young people into productive work. Placement must become the benchmark.”
As South Africa confronts the dual challenges of persistent unemployment and slow economic expansion, CHIETA is preparing to shift its business model from grants for training to grants for placements, ensuring that every investment contributes directly to employment creation.
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