The future of work in South Africa: AI's role in the country’s youth unemployment crisis

South Africa grapples with a stark reality; staggering youth unemployment and the numbers unfortunately paint a grim picture. The country’s national unemployment rate stood at 32.1% in the third quarter of last year. According to Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate among young people aged 15 – 34 years was 45.5%. Concern is mounting that this figure could rise, especially in a modern and ever-changing world with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. But is AI the villain in South Africa’s job crisis – or is it the answer the country needs to spark more new job opportunities than ever imagined. As part of a special feature, Jacaranda FM’s Chanel September looks at the possible impact of AI on the job market…