The Big Guest

South Africa's youth unemployment crisis demands urgent and practical solutions, and informed career choices are one of the most powerful tools young people have. Yet too many students are still making study and career decisions without adequate exposure to industries, real workplace environments or the career pathways available to them, leading to skills mismatches that hurt both individuals and the broader economy. As AI continues to transform the workplace, with the World Economic Forum projecting 170 million new jobs and 92 million displaced by 2030, the pressure to make the right career choices has never been greater.

The Transport Education and Training Authority is responding with action. TETA's Career Experience Roadshow is taking career guidance, practical skills and workplace readiness support directly to TVET students across the country. More than 500 students participated at Letaba TVET College's Tzaneen Campus on 26 August, with the roadshow continuing at Modjadji and Giyani campuses from 15 to 18 September 2026, bringing industry exposure to rural youth who may otherwise struggle to access it.

Thabiso Mokoetla, Acting Corporate Communications and Media Liaison Officer at TETA, joins the show to unpack why this initiative matters and what it means for the future of young South Africans navigating an increasingly complex world of work.