Unilever South Africa is strengthening its youth employment efforts through expanded programmes and partnerships, including its collaboration with the Youth Employment Service (YES).
With youth unemployment remaining above 60% in South Africa, Unilever says its employment initiatives are focused on bridging the gap between education and the workplace through structured skills development and practical experience opportunities.
In the past year, Unilever provided 315 unemployed young people aged between 18 and 35 with 12 months of work experience across manufacturing, digital optimisation, sales, marketing and the green economy. The placements were delivered in partnership with YES and supported by recruitment, onboarding, mentorship and outcomes tracking systems.
Unilever Southern Africa CEO Stefan Cloete said the YES partnership reflects a collaborative effort between government, business and labour to equip young people with practical skills and sustainable employment pathways.
YES CEO Ravi Naidoo said the collaboration supports long-term youth development outcomes.
“Our partnership with Unilever is more than a corporate collaboration. By welcoming YES participants into a world-class environment, we are helping ignite careers and unlock the potential of South Africa’s next generation,” he said.
Participants highlighted the value of workplace exposure and mentorship. Busiswa Mngadi described the programme as a collaborative environment offering valuable knowledge and career-shaping experience, while Kiara Kassie said she valued the supportive culture and continued learning opportunities. Mubeen Haroun said the experience provided valuable exposure within Unilever’s research and development environment in the FMCG sector.
Unilever said programme graduates leave with strengthened professional skills, updated CVs, reference letters and completion certificates to support employability.
The company says its youth employment initiatives form part of a broader strategy to address unemployment, promote economic inclusion and strengthen South Africa’s future talent pipeline. It has also encouraged other businesses to partner with YES to support job creation and inclusive economic growth.
