Youth employment programme

YES Programme: how to apply for 12 months of paid work experience

The Youth Employment Service places ~50,000 young South Africans a year into 12-month full-time roles with private employers — R5,241/month, free to apply, verified CV at the end.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers
Browse YES opportunities on SA Youth
Apply via
sayouth.mobi
Stipend (Mar 2026)
R5,241/month
Duration
12 months
Age
18–34
Cost
Free
Support
0800 727 272

Who can apply

  • South African citizen with a valid SA ID (most YES placements use B-BBEE rules)
  • Aged 18–34 (the strict B-BBEE rule is 34, though some marketing says 18–35 — some employers set lower limits like 18–29)
  • Currently unemployed (some employers require a sworn affidavit confirming this)
  • Not enrolled in full-time studies
  • No previous YES placement — you can only do YES once
  • Black candidates as defined by the B-BBEE codes (African, Coloured, Indian) for the majority of placements; non-B-BBEE programmes are open to all races and ages
  • Matric is not required by YES itself, but most host employers require it

What you'll need

  • Certified copy of SA ID (smart card or green book)
  • Updated CV with current contact details
  • Matric / Grade 12 certificate (optional from YES; usually required by the employer)
  • Proof of address
  • Affidavit of unemployment (template on yes4youth.co.za)
  • Bank account details — for the monthly stipend

Step by step

  1. Register on SA Youth

    There is no "apply on YES" button for jobseekers — the YES portal is for companies. Youth apply via sayouth.mobi (free, zero-rated on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and Virgin Mobile).
    Tip: If you've never registered, see our <a href='/apply/sa-youth-register' class='link'>SA Youth registration step-by-step</a>.

  2. Complete your SA Youth profile

    Add your education, work history, languages and a profile photo. Profiles below 80% complete get fewer matches — finish every section.

  3. Filter for YES opportunities

    On your dashboard, search or filter for "YES" in the opportunities feed. Tap into any role to see the employer, location, role type, and full job description.

  4. Apply through SA Youth

    Tap Apply Now on a listing. Track all applications under the My Applications tab.

  5. Or apply via an employer's careers page

    Major sponsors (Shoprite, SPAR, Nedbank, MTN, Eskom, Standard Bank, BMW SA, Sasol, Pick n Pay) run their own YES intakes via their careers pages. Check our individual employer guides like Shoprite and MTN for those routes.

  6. Sign your contract and start

    If selected, you sign a 12-month fixed-term contract directly with the host employer (or through one of YES's vetted implementation partners). Onboarding and your first stipend follow within 1–2 weeks of start date.
    Tip: Your stipend is paid by the host employer into <strong>your bank account</strong> — never on a voucher or e-wallet. If anyone asks you to pay a deposit, it's a scam.

What YES is and how it works

The Youth Employment Service (YES) was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March 2018 as South Africa's largest privately-funded youth employment initiative. It's a public-private partnership, operating as a non-profit, 100% funded by the private sector — no government money goes in.

The mechanism is simple: private companies earn one or two B-BBEE level-ups on their scorecard in exchange for creating 12-month, full-time, paid work experiences for unemployed young South Africans. As of 2026, YES has created over 227,000 jobs, invested R13.6 billion in youth salaries, and engaged 5.68 million youth on its platform.

The 2026 stipend — R5,241 a month

From 1 March 2026 the minimum YES stipend is R5,241 a month for 40 ordinary hours per week. This tracks the National Minimum Wage (R30.23/hour from March 2026, up from R28.79 in 2025).

Some specialist NQF Level 6+ placements pay between R5,000 and R7,000+. Older sources quoting R3,500 or R4,000 are out of date — anything below R5,241/month for full-time hours is now non-compliant.

The stipend is paid by the host employer, not YES or government. Employers also pay UIF and SDL on top.

What happens during your 12 months

  • Month 1–2: Onboarding, induction, a supervisor is assigned to you (recommended ratio 1:10).
  • Month 4: You should be ~40% through the YES One App training modules; first supervisor survey.
  • Month 6: 60% module completion; mid-programme check.
  • Month 8: Offboarding starts — your supervisor begins drafting your reference letter and CV.
  • Month 12: All modules complete. You receive a YES-verified CV, reference letter, and completion certificate.

Training covers digital skills, AI literacy, financial literacy and work-readiness — delivered on the YES One App alongside your full-time work.

What happens after the 12 months

The 12-month contract ends. Host companies decide individually whether to absorb you into permanent employment. YES reports an absorption rate of around 40–42% of alumni placed in some form of employment immediately after.

For the B-BBEE level-up, companies must absorb at least 2.5% of their YES cohort permanently. 5% absorption unlocks bonus points; doubling the target unlocks two level-ups.

YES alumni report a 3x higher interview call-back rate thanks to the verified CV. Around 17% become entrepreneurs.

Major employers offering YES placements (2026)

Confirmed active sponsors in 2026:

  • Retail: Shoprite (largest single contributor — 11,000+ jobs), SPAR, Pick n Pay, Clicks, TFG
  • Banking & financial services: Nedbank, Standard Bank, SBV Services
  • Telecoms: MTN
  • Energy & chemicals: Eskom, Sasol, Air Liquide
  • Automotive & logistics: BMW South Africa, Motus Retail, Ctrack, DHL/VW
  • FMCG: AVI / I&J
  • Services: Fundi, SGS

Total: 1,997 corporate sponsors in 2026.

Common YES scams

YES placements are always 100% free to apply for. Charging jobseekers fees is illegal under the Employment Services Act. Red flags:

  • Anyone demanding a fee, "registration", "training" or "uniform" payment to "secure" a YES spot
  • WhatsApp messages or fake Facebook profiles impersonating the Minister of Employment & Labour or fake "Department of Labour YES" pages
  • Recruiters using Gmail or Yahoo addresses with poor grammar
  • Pressure to "apply within 24 hours" or pay a deposit at a retailer
  • Stipends loaded onto vouchers or e-wallets instead of your bank account

How to verify a real YES placement:

  1. The employer is listed on yes4youth.co.za or visible on SA Youth
  2. Cross-check the role on the company's official careers page
  3. Real stipends are paid into your bank account
  4. Real recruiters use company-domain emails
  5. When in doubt, call YES on 0800 727 272 to verify

YES vs other youth programmes

YES Programme
12 months, full-time, private-sector placement. R5,241/month. Verified CV at the end. Tied to B-BBEE.
SETA Learnership
6–24 months, combines work with formal NQF qualification. Stipend varies by SETA (R3,500–R7,500). You finish with both a qualification and work experience.
SA Youth BEEI (Teacher/General Assistant)
4–6 month government contracts in public schools. Lower stipend but high volume of placements.
EPWP
Short-term public works contracts (3–12 months). Paid at the minimum EPWP rate.

YES contact details

Frequently asked questions

What is the YES Programme in South Africa?
The Youth Employment Service is a privately-funded programme that places unemployed young South Africans into 12-month, full-time, paid work experiences with private employers. Launched by President Ramaphosa in 2018, it's funded by businesses (not government) and incentivised through the B-BBEE scorecard.
Who qualifies for the YES Programme?
For the majority of placements (B-BBEE-incentivised): SA citizens aged 18–34, currently unemployed, not in full-time studies, who haven't done YES before. Most placements are for Black candidates as defined by the B-BBEE codes. Non-B-BBEE programmes are open to all races and ages.
How much does YES pay per month in 2026?
R5,241 per month for 40 hours/week, from 1 March 2026. This tracks the National Minimum Wage (R30.23/hour). Specialist roles can pay up to R7,000+. Older figures of R3,500–R4,500 are outdated and now non-compliant.
How do I apply for YES4Youth?
There's no direct "apply" button on the YES website — that's for companies. Apply via sayouth.mobi (register, complete your profile, filter for YES opportunities) or via the careers page of a YES employer like Shoprite, MTN or Nedbank.
Is the YES Programme legit and free?
Yes, completely legit and 100% free for jobseekers. Charging fees for YES placements is illegal under the Employment Services Act. Anyone asking for money is a scammer — verify by calling 0800 727 272.
Can I do the YES Programme twice?
No. Each person gets one 12-month placement only. Plan ahead: use months 8–12 of your placement to apply for permanent roles, learnerships or further study.
What is the age limit for YES — 34 or 35?
The strict B-BBEE rule is 18–34. Marketing materials often say 18–35 as shorthand. Some host employers set their own limits (commonly 18–29). Always check the specific advert.
Do I need Matric to apply for YES?
YES itself doesn't require matric, but most host employers do — especially in retail, banking and telecoms. Specialist roles may require a diploma or degree.
Will I get a permanent job after YES?
Around 40–42% of YES alumni are absorbed into employment immediately after (per YES's own data). All alumni get a verified CV and reference letter that 3x increases interview call-back rates. ~17% start their own businesses.
What's the difference between YES and a learnership?
YES is 12 months of work experience with no formal qualification. Learnerships combine work with a recognised NQF qualification (6–24 months). YES pays minimum wage; learnerships pay a smaller stipend but you finish with a qualification.

Related guides

SA Youth registration

You'll need a SA Youth profile before you can apply for YES placements.

How to apply for Shoprite jobs

Shoprite is the largest single YES employer (11,000+ jobs).

How to apply for MTN jobs

MTN runs its own YES intake — apply through the MTN careers portal.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.