Fostering entrepreneurship as a career management option to reduce youth unemployment.
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Date
2020
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Abstract
This study explores the impact of skills development amongst youth in order to start businesses
with the intent to create employment, therefore reducing unemployment. The rate of
unemployment in South Africa has been growing rapidly the past few years which is concerning
as it affects young people the most. Many youth resort to starting small businesses as a way to
survive and to provide for their social needs. While there has been studies that have been
conducted that motivate for entrepreneurship as a viable career option,it has been limited,
especially in South Africa. This study focuses on encouraging youth to consider selfemployment
as a career option than to seek employment. In order to ensure business success,
this study advocates for the development of entrepreneurial skills through skills initiatives by
various government departments. In order to ensure the effectiveness of skill development, this
study examined the skills development programme offered by the National Youth Development
Agency (NYDA) at EThekwini region. The study adopted the Structural Transformation model
in order to advocate for entrepreneurship through skills development and policy intergration
inorder to enhance economic growth in South Africa. This study took a qualitative research
design which included collecting data through face-to-face interviews with youth who have
attended the entrepreneurship skills development programme and stakeholders who facilitate
the programme.The findings of the study indicated that while the youth found the programme
offered by NYDA to be useful, they also noted various challenges, which at times could not be
directly addressed by the programme. The paramount issue of capital frequently came through
from interviews in which participants mentioned it crippeld certain spheres of their businesses.
Stakeholders concluded that many youth are not informed about the governemnet departments
and the programmes available to them for financial assistance. It was also noted that
entrepreneurs are not versed in the industries in which they venture into. Therefore, negatively
impacting on their business success. This study recommends that more awareness is made on
the availability of agencies like NYDA in the promotion of skills to the youth. It also
recommends further research to be done to explore ways to improve and encourage skills
development for entrepreneurship and creating an entrepreneurial mind-set amongst youth.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.