Have a peak at how Eskom contributes in reducing the unemployment amid South African unemployment crises

Eskom is South Africa’s main public electricity utility and one of the largest power producers in Africa. It was established in 1923 to generate and supply electricity to industries, businesses, and households across the country. Eskom is a state-owned enterprise, meaning it is owned by the South African government. Its primary role is to generate electricity, transmit it through high-voltage power lines, and distribute it to municipalities, companies, and some direct customers.

Eskom operates several power stations, including coal-fired, hydroelectric, nuclear, and renewable energy facilities. Most of South Africa’s electricity is produced from coal, making Eskom heavily reliant on coal power stations. The company also manages the national electricity grid, ensuring that power is delivered safely and reliably throughout the country.

In recent years, Eskom has faced financial and operational challenges, leading to electricity shortages and load shedding (planned power cuts) to prevent the national grid from collapsing. Despite these challenges, Eskom remains essential to South Africa’s economy, as electricity is critical for economic growth, healthcare, education, and daily life. The government continues to implement reforms aimed at improving Eskom’s performance and ensuring a stable energy supply for the future.

Eskom contributes to South Africa’s unemployment statistics in both positive and negative ways.

On the positive side, Eskom is one of the largest employers in the country. It directly employs thousands of workers, including engineers, technicians, artisans, administrative staff, and general workers. Through its power stations, maintenance projects, and infrastructure development, Eskom also creates indirect jobs for contractors, suppliers, security companies, and transport services. In addition, Eskom offers learnerships, internships, and apprenticeship programmes that help young people gain skills and work experience, which improves their chances of employment. These initiatives help reduce unemployment, especially among the youth.

However, Eskom’s operational challenges have also indirectly influenced unemployment levels. Load shedding (planned power cuts) affects businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. When businesses cannot operate consistently due to power shortages, they may reduce working hours, retrench employees, or even close down. This contributes to higher unemployment rates nationally. Industries such as manufacturing, mining, and retail are heavily dependent on stable electricity supply, and disruptions can slow economic growth.

Eskom plays a dual role in South Africa’s unemployment statistics. While it creates direct and indirect employment opportunities, its electricity supply challenges can negatively impact businesses and overall job creation in the economy.

Unemployed youth in South Africa can look up to Eskom for employment opportunities, especially in technical and skills-based careers. Eskom offers various programmes aimed at developing young people, including learnerships, apprenticeships, internships, and graduate-in-training programmes. These initiatives help youth gain practical experience in fields such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, finance, human resources, and artisan trades.

Through apprenticeship programmes, young people can train as electricians, fitters, welders, and technicians. Eskom also provides bursaries to students studying scarce and critical skills, particularly in engineering and energy-related qualifications. These opportunities improve employability, even beyond Eskom, because participants gain recognised skills and workplace experience.

However, competition for these opportunities is high. Eskom does not employ everyone who applies, and candidates must meet specific educational requirements and pass selection processes. In addition, due to financial and restructuring challenges, permanent employment opportunities may be limited.

While Eskom cannot solve youth unemployment alone, it remains an important pathway for skills development and employment in South Africa. Youth who focus on relevant qualifications, technical skills, and continuous learning have a better chance of benefiting from the opportunities Eskom provides.

The Youth Employment Service (YES) programme offered by Eskom is part of a national initiative aimed at reducing youth unemployment in South Africa by providing unemployed young people with valuable workplace experience. The programme usually runs for 12 months and gives participants practical exposure in departments such as administration, finance, human resources, technical services, and operations. It is designed to help youth develop professional skills, improve their employability, and gain real work experience that can strengthen their CVs. To qualify, applicants must be South African citizens between the ages of 18 and 34, have at least a Grade 12 (Matric) certificate, be currently unemployed, and not studying full-time. Applicants should also not have previously participated in a YES programme and should not have been permanently employed for more than one year with a single employer. When opportunities are advertised, youth can apply online through Eskom’s official careers website by submitting a detailed CV, certified copy of their ID, certified copy of their matric certificate, and any relevant qualifications. Successful candidates receive a fixed-term contract and a monthly stipend for the duration of the programme.