Government has since 2004 run the successful Expanded Public Works Programme which provides work opportunities and training for the unemployed. The new phase will provide six million work opportunities by 2019. Around four million work opportunities were created in the past five years, President Jacob Zuma said in the State of the Nation Address of June 2014.
The Expanded Public Works programme's environmental initiatives such as working on waste, working on wetlands, working for water, working on fire and the Environmental Youth Services programme will also be upscaled up to 2019, in support of youth development.
In addition, the local government- based Community Work Programme will be expanded to provide a million work opportunities by the end of 2019.
Government identified agriculture as a key job driver. Our target is for the agricultural sector to create a million jobs by 2030.
Government will provide comprehensive support to smallholder farmers by speeding up land reform and providing technical, infrastructural and financial support.
Support will be provided to communities as well to engage in food production and subsistence farming to promote food security, in line with the Fetsa Tlala food production programme.
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) recorded the following youth empowerment statistics, arising from its interventions:
| Young people receiving non-financial interventions | 36 164 |
| Number of young entrepreneurs funded through Economic Development Programmes (NYDA Micro, SME and external partners) | 1 833 |
| Value of funding accessed through Economic Development Programmes (NYDA Micro, SME and external partners) | R30 261 150.62 |
| Number of jobs created | 3 335 |
| Number of jobs facilitated through placement in job opportunities | 1 325 |
| Number of projects supported through green economy interventions | 78 projects |
The Jobs Fund was announced by the President during the State of the Nation Address on 10 February, 2011. Following this announcement, the Jobs Fund was successfully launched in June 2011 by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and an amount of R9 billion Rand was set aside, to be allocated over a three year period, towards the realisation of the objectives of the Jobs Fund.
More information on the Jobs Fund is available under the Frequently Asked Questions section.
The Mid-Term Review Report [PDF] released on 1 June 2012, indicates that although Government have not created sufficient jobs to meet the demand, significant advances have been made in the coordination of growth strategies, the New Growth Path and stakeholder agreements. Government has made progress with labour absorbing industrial development strategies in manufacturing, mineral products, procurement reform and the Jobs Fund.
Government will expand its employment programmes over the next three years and continue to support job creation by the private sector, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan said in the Budget Speech for 2014.
Government has spent more than R100 billion on employment programmes over the five years up to 2014, including municipal and provincial spending. More than 4 million job opportunities were funded over this time. Allocations will continue to grow strongly, and 6 million job opportunities will be created over the next five years.
To boost economic growth, transformation and job creation, the 2014/15 budget made R35 billion available for industrial development, which includes R6.5 billion for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), R5.4 billion for provincial investment agencies and R2.3 billion for various research and development support initiatives.
This funding will support the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) and its sector strategies such as the Automotive Production and Development Programme, which subsidises international vehicle manufacturers to incorporate local producers into their supply chains, and the Clothing and Textile Competitiveness Programme, which aims to counter the effects of illegal imports and increase domestic producers' participation in local and global markets.
Over the next three years, special economic zones are allocated R3.6 billion to promote value-added exports and generate jobs in economically disadvantaged parts of the country. Preparatory work is underway to attract investors to the zones through tax incentives, infrastructure enhancements and other initiatives.
Another initiative is the agricultural policy action plan to support the National Development Plan target of creating 1 million jobs in agriculture by 2030. Expenditure over the medium term will focus on improving agricultural productivity. More than R7 billion will be spent on conditional grants to provinces in support of about 435 000 subsistence and 54 500 smallholder farmers, and to improve agricultural extension services.
To boost domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports, the Fetsa Tlala initiative aims to bring an additional 1 million hectares into cultivation by 2019, creating 300 000 jobs.
The private sector remains the biggest driver of job creation, but there is also a role for government in supporting employment creation as well as providing short-term work opportunities through public and community works projects.
One such innovative approach to support for job creation is the Jobs Fund which provides a model for tackling unemployment and promoting growth by matching private sector funding for projects that will generate sustainable jobs and spur economic activity. Among the current initiatives supported by the Jobs Fund are agricultural projects working on linking farmers to agricultural produce markets in rural areas as well as projects that provide support to emerging entrepreneurs in the townships. Thus far the fund has contracted 61 projects that will receive grant funding of R3.2 billion over the next three years. These projects are expected to create 96 102 permanent jobs and place 48 933 individuals into existing jobs by 2016.
The other approach is that of the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) [PDF] which was launched in January 2014 as an incentive that subsidises the salaries of newly recruited workers aged 18-29. The ETI should support a total of 240 000 jobs over the next three years.
President Jacob Zuma announced in the State of the Nation Address for 2011 that all government departments will align their programmes with the job creation imperative. The provincial and local government spheres were requested to do the same, and 2011 was declared a year of job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth.
President Zuma said that research had indicated that we could create jobs in six priority areas: 
The 2011 Budget proposed a range of measures to accelerate employment creation over the period ahead, including R9 billion that has been set aside over the next three years for a Jobs Fund to co-finance innovative public- and private-sector employment projects.
For every job available, you will always have to compete with other job-seekers. This information should help you to find a job, write a CV, prepare you for the interview and starting the job. You can also find information on how to start a business.
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