The 64-year-old politician said the trajectory of South Africa needed to be changed with what he called a "new deal".
He proposed a 10-point plan that put the creation of decent jobs at the centre of policy programmes and action - with an unrelenting focus on growing the economy.
He said the economy would not create jobs unless it grew. The target for gross domestic product growth should be 3% next year, rising to 5% growth by 2023.
Ramaphosa deviated from his prepared speech multiple times, saying state-owned enterprises were being looted. The economy could not be in the hands of a few, he said, specifically mentioning "families" - an obvious reference to the Gupta family.
Asked about the resignation of Michael Sachs as the Treasury's budget chief, he said it was "most unfortunate".
Ramaphosa said he would talk to Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba about destabilisation of the national Treasury.