Written by Craig Van Buuren, Divisional Head at Training Force

At our Training Force Parktown offices in Johannesburg, we run a walk-in centre where young jobseekers can apply for learnerships in person. It operates only on select days and within limited hours, and when we first opened the doors, we had no idea what the response would be.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed the queues growing longer, each time filled with hopeful school leavers clutching their CVs, waiting patiently for someone to give them a chance. This week I was stopped in my tracks. The line curved around the block; a powerful reminder of just how many young people are ready to work, if only they’re given the opportunity.

That sight was both humbling and sobering, a reminder of just how desperate young people are for opportunity, and how much potential sits untapped on our pavements every day.

Youth unemployment in South Africa remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. With more than 40% of young people out of work, it’s clear that traditional approaches, particularly training in isolation, are not enough. As a business community, we must face the reality that while skills development is essential, training alone won’t fix the problem. The real solution lies in bridging the gap between potential and opportunity.

At Training Force, we see daily the incredible potential of South Africa’s youth. They are driven, resilient, and eager to contribute. Yet many remain locked out of the economy, not because they lack ability, but because they lack access, access to networks, mentors, and real-world experiences that turn learning into livelihoods.

The issue isn’t a shortage of training programmes, but a shortage of pathways. Too often, development initiatives end when the classroom door closes. We must move beyond compliance-driven interventions and towards solutions that connect learning directly to opportunity, through structured work experience, enterprise development, and integration into value chains.

This means stronger collaboration between business, government, and training providers. Industry must help shape the design of skills programmes to ensure alignment with real economic demand. In turn, businesses need to open their doors to young people, offering internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships that lead to meaningful employment or entrepreneurship.

At Training Force, our approach has always been to build partnerships that create sustainable impact. By integrating training with access to markets, we help turn potential into productivity. We’ve seen firsthand that when young people are given the right tools and an environment to apply them, they don’t just find jobs, they create them.

Opportunity shouldn’t be limited to formal employment either. Supporting small and medium enterprises, encouraging youth-led business growth, and linking them into supply chains is equally vital. By empowering young entrepreneurs, we strengthen communities and stimulate wider economic participation.

Addressing youth unemployment isn’t a charitable act, it’s a strategic imperative. A thriving economy depends on the inclusion of its youth. Every young person who steps into work or builds a business contributes to a stronger, more resilient South Africa.

The next phase of transformation must focus on connection: connecting learning to livelihood, skill to opportunity, and potential to progress.

At Training Force, we remain committed to being part of that bridge. Because while training builds skills, opportunity builds futures, and it’s time we invest in both.