Young South Africans looking for workplace experience can learn more about the Youth Employment Service (YES), a private-sector youth employment programme designed to create work opportunities for unemployed young people.
The programme is listed by Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE), a youth-employment network housed within the World Bank’s Labor and Skills Global Solutions Group. S4YE describes YES South Africa as a high-impact private-sector youth employment programme that works with businesses to create 12-month work experiences for unemployed young people.
YES was founded in 2018 and operates in South Africa. S4YE categorises the programme under Jobs and Skills.
Importantly, the S4YE profile is a programme information page. It does not provide a universal 2026 application deadline, monthly stipend, number of vacancies or a single application form for all YES opportunities.
YES Programme 2026: Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Youth Employment Service (YES) |
| Country | South Africa |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Focus | Jobs and Skills |
| Target group | Unemployed young people |
| Workplace experience | 12 months |
| Programme model | Private-sector youth employment |
| Government funding | S4YE says YES receives no government funding |
| Stipend | Not specified on the S4YE profile |
| Closing date | Not specified |
| Number of opportunities | Not specified on the S4YE profile |
The programme information above is based primarily on the S4YE profile for Youth Employment Service.
What Is the YES Programme?
The Youth Employment Service, commonly known as YES, is a South African programme focused on connecting unemployed young people with workplace experience.
According to S4YE, YES works with businesses across different sectors to provide 12-month quality work experiences for unemployed young people.
The programme’s stated purpose is to help young participants gain experience that can support their progression into employment, skilled careers and entrepreneurship.
S4YE describes YES as a non-profit organisation that receives no government funding and works with leading businesses to create youth employment opportunities.
How Does YES Work?
The programme operates through partnerships with businesses.
Businesses participate by creating workplace opportunities for unemployed young people. S4YE says these opportunities are designed to provide 12 months of quality work experience.
This means that YES should not be confused with a single employer offering one standard job description.
The actual workplace, role, location and requirements can depend on the participating business and the specific YES opportunity.
How Long Is the YES Programme?
The standard workplace experience described by S4YE is 12 months.
The 12-month period is an important feature of the programme because participants gain experience within a real workplace rather than only completing classroom-based training.
However, applicants should always check the individual opportunity for its exact contract and placement details.
Who Is YES For?
The S4YE profile describes YES as a programme for unemployed young people.
The exact eligibility requirements can vary depending on the participating company and opportunity.
Therefore, Youthscope should not automatically state that every YES opportunity has identical requirements for age, qualification, residence, citizenship or previous work experience unless those requirements are published for the particular intake.
Is a Qualification Required?
The S4YE profile does not state one universal educational qualification requirement for every YES opportunity.
Applicants should therefore check the requirements attached to the individual YES position advertised by the participating employer.
One opportunity may have different requirements from another because YES operates through participating businesses across different sectors.
What Kind of Work Experience Can Participants Get?
YES works with businesses across various sectors, so the actual work experience can differ between placements.
The programme is designed around workplace experience rather than one fixed occupation. S4YE describes the objective as providing unemployed young people with quality 12-month work experiences that can help them move towards becoming future managers, skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.
The specific role should therefore be determined from the employer’s individual YES opportunity.
Does YES Offer Skills Training?
YES also has training initiatives connected to its workplace programmes.
S4YE highlights a collaboration between YES and Microsoft involving an AI Skills Training Platform designed to provide AI skills to young people in YES’s apprenticeship programme. S4YE says the platform is intended to provide access to AI awareness and skills development ranging from novice to expert level.
This is an example of a specific YES skills initiative and should not be presented as a guarantee that every YES participant will receive identical AI training.
Youth4Tourism and YES
S4YE also highlights Youth4Tourism (Y4T), an initiative involving YES, founding partner Sanlam and other corporate partners.
The initiative focuses on developing young talent for tourism-related roles, with S4YE mentioning areas such as field guiding and photography.
Again, this is a specific YES initiative rather than a description of every YES placement.
Is There a Stipend?
Not specified on the S4YE programme profile.
The S4YE page confirms the existence of 12-month workplace experiences but does not publish one universal monthly stipend applicable to all YES participants.
This is important because individual participating employers may publish their own opportunity details.
Youthscope should therefore avoid inserting an assumed stipend amount into a general YES article.
Is There a 2026 Closing Date?
Not specified.
The S4YE profile does not provide a universal 2026 closing date for the YES programme.
YES opportunities can involve different participating businesses and roles, so applicants should check the specific opportunity advertisement for its application deadline.
How Can Young People Find YES Opportunities?
Because YES works with participating businesses, there is not necessarily one universal vacancy with one job description for every applicant.
The safest approach is to identify a specific YES opportunity and then follow the application instructions supplied by the organisation advertising that opportunity.
Applicants should verify that the opportunity comes from an official or trusted source before submitting personal information.
Does YES Guarantee a Permanent Job?
No such guarantee is stated on the S4YE profile.
S4YE says the programme provides work experiences intended to help unemployed young people become future managers, skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.
That does not mean every participant is guaranteed permanent employment after completing the 12-month experience.
A permanent job depends on the participating employer, available positions and the individual’s circumstances.
YES and the Private Sector
A central part of the YES model is its relationship with private-sector businesses.
S4YE says businesses participate by creating jobs for unemployed young people. In return, businesses can receive one or two levels up on their B-BBEE scorecard and/or integrate participation into their ESG strategies.
This business partnership model distinguishes YES from programmes that are operated solely as classroom-based training.
Why Workplace Experience Matters
Workplace experience can give young people exposure to real organisational processes, professional environments and job responsibilities.
S4YE describes YES’s objective as providing quality work experiences that help unemployed youth develop towards future professional and entrepreneurial roles.
The exact skills gained will depend on the participant’s placement and responsibilities.
Important Information Before Applying
Before applying for a YES opportunity, remember:
- YES is the Youth Employment Service in South Africa.
- The programme was founded in 2018.
- S4YE describes YES as a non-profit organisation.
- The programme works with businesses to provide workplace opportunities to unemployed youth.
- The standard workplace experience described by S4YE is 12 months.
- YES operates across participating businesses and sectors rather than offering one standard role.
- A universal stipend amount is not specified on the S4YE profile.
- A universal 2026 closing date is not specified.
- A permanent job after the programme is not guaranteed by the S4YE description.
- Requirements should be checked against the specific YES opportunity.
Final Word
The Youth Employment Service (YES) is a South African private-sector youth employment programme focused on providing unemployed young people with workplace experience.
According to the S4YE profile, YES was founded in 2018 and works with businesses to provide 12-month quality work experiences. The programme operates across different sectors, meaning the role, workplace and requirements can vary according to the participating employer.
For young people searching for a 2026 opportunity, the most important point is to distinguish the YES programme itself from individual YES vacancies. The S4YE profile confirms the programme structure but does not provide a universal 2026 closing date, stipend or vacancy count.
Applicants should therefore verify the requirements and closing date on the specific YES opportunity before applying.
Official sources
Primary source:
S4YE — Youth Employment Service (YES)
S4YE identifies YES as a South African youth employment programme founded in 2018, focused on jobs and skills and providing 12-month workplace experiences for unemployed youth.
Supporting source:
S4YE — About Us
Verified For Youthscope readers:
- TFG Youth Workplace Opportunities 2026 — especially relevant because TFG participates in youth workplace programmes and gives readers a concrete employer example.
- Learnerships 2026 — for readers who are looking specifically for learnerships rather than YES workplace opportunities.
- Internships 2026 — for qualified youth seeking internships.
- Youth employment opportunities
- SA Youth opportunities — useful for young people looking across multiple South African youth employment pathways.
Author/Updated Information
Written by: Mbalizuke Nkosi
Published: 18 September 2026
Updated: 18 September 2026
Information checked: 18 September 2026
Mbalizuke Nkosi is the editorial voice behind YouthScope.co.za, a South African youth-focused platform dedicated to providing reliable information on opportunities, education, and career development. The platform serves students, graduates, job seekers, and young professionals by delivering accurate, timely, and easy-to-understand content.
Through informative and professionally curated content, YouthScope.co.za aims to equip young people with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their education and future careers.
For inquiries or support, please contact admin@youthscope.co.za.