South Africa's energy transition aims to generate renewable electricity and create sustainable livelihoods for young people in affected communities. The Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP) brings these goals together by preparing workers for emerging energy industries. The programme's deliverables include a labour-market dashboard and feasibility studies for Skills Development Zones. JET SEP is backed by a US$1 million grant from the African Development Bank's Fund for African Private Sector Assistance.
South Africa's youth employment challenge provides the urgent context for JET SEP. Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2026 recorded youth unemployment among people aged 15–34 at 47.4%. Almost one in two young people in the labour force cannot find work. The National Youth Development Agency warned that this reflects "an economy that is not creating enough employment opportunities" rather than merely a skills deficit.
JET SEP aims to connect skills development with labour-market demand rather than treating training as an end in itself. The JET ATLAS, an interactive dashboard, forecasts skills supply and demand across South Africa's municipalities. The dashboard should track job vacancies, project pipelines, training completions and employment outcomes. If regularly updated and used by training institutions and employers, it could help answer practical questions about which occupations are in demand.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has endorsed the Skills Development Zones (SDZs) concept and plans to launch three zones. The concept coordinates training, employers and local economic needs within defined areas. For young people, the test is whether each zone provides a clear pathway from learning to employment through recognised qualifications and practical experience.
NBI Chief Executive Officer Shameela Soobramoney has set an ambition to enable 100,000 green jobs by 2030. The African Development Bank estimates that South Africa needs between 120,000 and 200,000 jobs in the country by 2030. Aligning skills development with labour-market demand is crucial so that young people can access emerging opportunities.
A critical caveat underpins the green-jobs narrative: data from South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme indicates that approximately 70,000 jobs have been created since the programme's inception, but only around 6,000 are permanent. Most employment is concentrated in construction and installation, with projects typically lasting between six months and two years.
African Development Bank Chief Regional Power Systems Officer Anders Pedersen noted that energy infrastructure projects may not generate significant direct employment beyond construction and installation. Their greater employment impact is likely to come indirectly by providing reliable electricity to businesses, enabling small enterprises to grow and increase production. The programme's initial focus on Mpumalanga reflects the province's exposure to the coal transition, with approximately 80% of national coal production and 85% of coal-related employment.
Key points
- JET SEP programme prepares workers for emerging energy industries in South Africa.
- South Africa's youth unemployment rate is 47.4% among people aged 15–34.
- The programme aims to enable 100,000 green jobs by 2030.
