Youth optimistic about SA careers

The youth believe South Africa is a good place to have a successful career, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) said on Thursday.

"Seventy-eight percent believe South Africa is a good place to have a successful career and 68 percent see themselves having a better career in South Africa than anywhere else," said senior manager of the Gibs Centre for Leadership and Dialogue, Phyllis Byars.

Nine-hundred senior high school pupils were surveyed at the Gibs Career Expo which Grade 11 and 12 pupils from a range of township, inner city, former Model C and private schools were invited to attend.

"Seventy-eight percent... believe that South Africa in 2016 will be a better place to work than it is in 2011.

"However, 80 percent would like to further their career at some point outside of South Africa and return with skills and experience garnered from other countries," said Byars in a statement.

Eighty percent agreed they would have a great life in South Africa, with 72 percent saying they feel safe living in the country.

Byars described the results of the survey as "very encouraging".

"It demonstrates that the youth are incredibly positive about their future in South Africa and are committed to making a career for themselves in the country."

Just over 60 percent of respondents believe the government is doing a good job of running the country and 70 percent believe improvements in South Africa will come mostly through government actions.