
INSIDE YOUR BUSINESS: Matric Success vs the Jobs Reality: Why the economy is struggling to absorb young talent
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GUEST - Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Momentum Group's Youth Employment Specialist
South Africa is celebrating a record-breaking 88% matric pass rate from the largest class in the country’s history – a moment of pride for learners, teachers and families. But for many in the Class of 2025, passing matric is not the end of the journey, it’s the beginning of a far more uncertain one. With youth unemployment still at crisis levels and limited opportunities for first-time job seekers, thousands of young people risk falling into the NEET category – not in education, employment or training.
In this edition of Inside Your Business, Nkosinathi Mahlangu from Momentum Group unpacks the tough transition from school to the world of work. We explore why tertiary education remains out of reach for many, why the economy is struggling to absorb young talent, and what alternative pathways – from TVET colleges and apprenticeships to entrepreneurship – could offer real hope.
South Africa is celebrating a record-breaking 88% matric pass rate from the largest class in the country’s history – a moment of pride for learners, teachers and families. But for many in the Class of 2025, passing matric is not the end of the journey, it’s the beginning of a far more uncertain one. With youth unemployment still at crisis levels and limited opportunities for first-time job seekers, thousands of young people risk falling into the NEET category – not in education, employment or training.
In this edition of Inside Your Business, Nkosinathi Mahlangu from Momentum Group unpacks the tough transition from school to the world of work. We explore why tertiary education remains out of reach for many, why the economy is struggling to absorb young talent, and what alternative pathways – from TVET colleges and apprenticeships to entrepreneurship – could offer real hope.

