With the release of the Q4 2025 Quarterly Labour Force Survey, which shows employment up by 44,000 and 172,000 fewer unemployed South Africans, bringing the official unemployment rate down by 0.5 percentage points, there are encouraging signs of movement in the labor market. That said, youth unemployment remains a significant challenge and requires sustained, targeted intervention.
Amazon Web Services has placed 20 unemployed Information Technology (IT) graduates within Home Affairs Departments across Gauteng through the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program.
The initiative, delivered in collaboration with YES, AWS’s Equity Equivalent Investment Program (EEIP) partner—Titan Centre of Excellence, and the Gauteng Department of Home Affairs, contributes to addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment while accelerating the government’s digital transformation and building sustainable information technology careers for South Africans.
The graduates will receive foundational and associate-level AWS cloud training and certification, workplace experience, compensation, and ongoing mentorship through to December 2026. These young professionals will contribute to the technical modernization of Home Affairs, directly contributing to the Departments’ digital service delivery transformation strategy.
“AWS’s partnership with the YES program and the Department of Home Affairs addresses the youth skills gap in the country. The 20 graduates will obtain an AWS cloud practitioner certification and practical public sector experience, enhancing their employability in South Africa’s competitive job market. This demonstrates how public-private partnerships can drive digital transformation and meaningful employment opportunities,” says James Hickman, Amazon Web Services Country Manager for South Africa.
“We are equipping South Africa’s public sector with skilled cloud professionals to accelerate digital service delivery, while providing unemployed graduates with globally recognized cloud certifications, practical experience, and sustainable income,” added Hickman.
Speaking on her journey, AWS YES program graduate Emihle Majeke said, “The AWS YES program opened doors I may not have otherwise accessed and played a pivotal role in my professional growth. In 2023, I was placed at Solvyng, where I gained valuable exposure to an industry-aligned cloud practitioner environment. This experience enabled my progression into my current role working as an AWS Authorized Instructor at the AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, where I deliver cloud training and support the Center’s skills development initiatives.
I was subsequently recognized as a YES Top 35 Under 35 achiever, and I’m now seven-times AWS-certified, reflecting my continued commitment to learning and excellence in cloud computing. AWS’s commitment to youth development has been transformational in my career journey.”
Mamsi Nkosi
www.itnewsafrica.com
