A new partnership aimed at closing South Africa’s widening skills gap while preparing young engineering graduates for the rapidly evolving green economy is set to create new opportunities for unemployed youth and strengthen the pipeline of technical talent available to industry.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber have joined forces to launch the Adopt a Skill Initiative, an innovative programme that combines specialised industry training with practical workplace experience to equip graduates with the skills required for the country’s Just Energy Transition.
The initiative responds to one of South Africa’s most pressing economic challenges: the disconnect between higher education and the rapidly changing skills demanded by employers. While millions of South Africans remain unemployed, including thousands of graduates, businesses continue to battle shortages of work-ready technical talent, limiting productivity, investment and economic growth.
Through the programme, 20 unemployed graduates holding qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Analytical Chemistry will receive specialised training through uYilo, South Africa’s national electric mobility programme.
Upon successful completion, participants will be placed with Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber member companies for four to six months of structured workplace experience, with monthly stipends funded through the programme.
The initiative seeks to build awareness, foundational competencies and sustainable career pathways in critical Just Energy Transition skills and emerging technologies, while helping businesses access a future-ready talent pipeline.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer, Denise van Huyssteen, said the partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing one of the country’s most significant barriers to inclusive economic growth.
“South Africa cannot afford a situation where businesses are searching for critical skills while talented young graduates remain locked out of the economy. Bridging that gap requires meaningful partnerships that connect education, industry and practical workplace experience.
“The Adopt a Skill Initiative is far more than a training programme. It is an investment in young people, in business competitiveness and in the long-term resilience of our economy. By combining specialised technical training with real workplace exposure, we are creating pathways into sustainable employment while helping employers build the skilled workforce required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven and low-carbon economy.”
Van Huyssteen said the programme aligns strongly with the Chamber’s commitment to developing future talent and supporting initiatives that drive inclusive economic participation.
“As industries continue to evolve, the demand for new technical and digital capabilities will only increase. Preparing young professionals for these opportunities is essential if South Africa is to unlock the full potential of the Just Energy Transition and ensure that economic transformation creates shared prosperity rather than widening inequality.
“We are proud to partner with the International Labour Organization on an initiative that delivers practical outcomes for young people while supporting the growth and competitiveness of our member companies and the broader regional economy.”
Partnerships that connect skills development with real workplace opportunities are critical to ensuring that young people are equipped with skills and competencies aligned with industry standards enhancing their employability, aiding South Africa’s transition to a greener economy and creating pathways into decent work.
“A Just Energy Transition must be anchored in social justice, ensuring that young people have the skills and opportunities to access decent and productive work. Through the Adopt a Skill Initiative, the ILO is helping bridge the skills-to-employment gap while supporting a greener, more inclusive economy that leaves no one behind,” said Alexio Musindo, International Labour Organization Pretoria Office Director.
“The transition to a greener, more sustainable economy must also be a transition that creates opportunities for young people and decent work. The Adopt a Skill Initiative provides an important bridge between technical education and the workplace by combining specialised training with structured workplace experience, strengthening graduate employability while helping businesses develop the talent they need for the evolving demands of the Just Energy Transition’”
“Investing in young people’s skills and access to decent work is not only an investment in their future, but also in the productivity, resilience and inclusive growth of South Africa’s economy. Partnerships such as this can help ensure that the benefits of economic and technological transformation are broadly shared,” he concluded.
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Issued by:
Sibongile Dimbaza
Communications Officer