This youth month, June 2018, SAB shines a spotlight on addressing youth unemployment in South Africa
Johannesburg. 19 June 2018. The majority of South Africa’s graduates face a real dilemma in the local job market – they generally cannot find employment because they need work experience and they cannot get work experience without a job.
According to Statistics South Africa, in 2017, graduate unemployment rates in South Africa reached a 13-year high. The rise in figures has not abated, with unemployment amongst graduates in the first quarter of 2018 at 33.5% for those aged 15-24 and 10.2% amongst those aged 25-34 years.
Statistics South Africa further notes that “lack of experience increase the vulnerabilities of youth in the labour market.”
It was reported in the media that President Cyril Ramaphosa called on private sector companies to employ young graduates without work experience, during a Youth Day celebratory event. The president highlighted the challenge of young people with university degrees who were struggling to find employment and emphasised that for the country and business sector to grow, it was necessary for these graduates to be provided with employment despite their lack of work experience.
In response to this growing challenge, SAB has introduced a Graduate Management Training Programme geared at providing university graduates the necessary work experience and creating high quality future leaders within its business in South Africa and in key markets across the rest of Africa.
Youth unemployment in South Africa can only be addressed when big business supports public sector efforts to bridge the gap between education, skills development and gainful employment. In this way, we are able to ensure that our young graduates are well equipped to make a meaningful contribution to the world of work.
Lucia Swartz, VP People, SAB and AB InBev Africa.
Through the SAB Graduate Management Training Programme, SAB is looking to attract the brightest young talent as they enter the workplace and to nurture and grow them by offering relevant experiences from the start of their working lives.
Graduates selected to participate in the 10-month long Graduate Management Training Programme are immediately employed by SAB and participate in a 10-month long experiential course before being formally placed in permanent positions within the business.
The programme is rotational as they gain experience in several areas of the business, in South Africa and other AB Inbev operations in Africa.
“By nurturing young future leaders, we are making a sustainable impact in the lives of youths who struggle to get their foot in the door of many corporates in order to get the necessary experience required to ensure long-term employment.
“At the same time, we are investing in the growth and success of SAB and AB InBev,as we will employ highly capable people who bring with them fresh knowledge and ideas to help transform in innovative ways how we do business,” says Swartz.
The following requirements are necessary to be considered for the Graduate Management Training Programme:
- Bachelor or Masters Degree (or equivalent) – across all Faculties
- Minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA (B average)
- Less than 2 years formal work experience Be proficient in English
- Geographic mobility
- Be proficient in English
Graduates and students who comply with the eligibility criteria can go to http://www.ab-inbev.com/careers.html or www.sab.co.za (Click on Career page).
Applications are currently open and will close on 27 August 2018.
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