Africa’s entrepreneurs are key to solving the job crisis

There is a myth that says big companies and big government are the solution to the job crisis on the African continent. In fact, just as in other big global economies such as the US, it’s small businesses that will actually employ the most people. In a country such as South Africa which has chronic unemployment (South Africa has had a 20% plus unemployment rate for over two decades), particularly amongst young people, more needs to be done to encourage and support young people to take control of their futures and create their own businesses. This should include support for entrepreneurship skills training and development, access to micro-finance, and support from corporates and government to provide access to market opportunities in the early launch stage. Importantly, if a new generation of young entrepreneurs is to emerge, not just in South Africa but across the African continent, they need to be part of an entrepreneurial community. They need to be mentored by experienced and successful entrepreneurs who can provide advice and guidance. They also need to be connected to other young entrepreneurs for peer-to-peer support. By building a young entrepreneur community that supports itself and is also supported by big business and government, these young business builders will not only survive, they will thrive and contribute to solving the job crisis.