YOUTH DAY | Youth of 2026 face a different struggle 50 years after 1976 uprising (opens original article in a new tab)

South African youth today face greater challenges in finding employment compared to the 1976 uprising generation, with high unemployment rates and limited job opportunities despite increased education access.

• Fifty years after the Soweto Uprising, South African youth face unemployment and job market challenges instead of education access.
• Youth unemployment in South Africa reached 60.9% for those aged 15-24 in Q1 2026.
• Many graduates struggle to find employment due to limited opportunities and competition from higher-educated candidates.