“What Must We Do”: Young Woman Complains About the Job Market Cycle and Why Youth Can’t Find Work

• A young South African woman posted a video asking what the youth are supposed to do in a job market where there are no openings
• She pointed out that older workers cannot afford to retire due to the cost of living
• Social media users shared their own job search horror stories, with many saying a degree is no longer any guarantee of finding work
• Briefly News spoke to financial expert Farook Mohammed on what older South Africans who are approaching retirement age can do if they have not put any savings plan in place yet

A young woman asked a question that thousands of South Africans are asking every day. @desarah29, a TikToker who shares personal growth content on TikTok, posted a video on 14 March 2026. She vented about the state of the job market while in her living room. She said the market is so bad right now that degrees make no difference. She explained that people who are ready to retire simply cannot afford to. Because they are staying in their jobs longer, no positions are opening up for young people trying to get their foot in the door. Then employers ask for experience. Experience that nobody can get because nobody will hire them first. She ended with:

Read also

"No Apple Pay": SA woman shares hilarious culture shock after nearly getting kicked out of a store

"We as the youth, what are we supposed to do?"

Why South Africa's job market is so hard to crack

The cycle she described is very real. According to research by 10X Investments, only 6% of South Africans are in a position to retire comfortably. This means that many older workers are staying employed out of necessity rather than choice. To retire with any kind of financial security, a person needs to have saved around R7.5 million by the age of 63.

With inflation making daily life more expensive and savings difficult to build, many workers simply cannot step away. This directly limits the number of positions available to younger job seekers entering the market.

Briefly News writer, Nerissa Naidoo, spoke to financial expert Farook Mohammed on what those nearing retirement age can do if they have not put any savings plan in place yet.

"The first thing I want to say is do not panic. Start somewhere, even if it feels too late. Sit down and look at exactly what you are spending every month. Cut what you do not need and take that money and put it into a retirement annuity or a tax-free savings account immediately. Also, go and speak to a financial advisor as soon as you can because the right conversation now can completely change your situation. And if you have debt, focus on clearing it before you retire. Carrying debt into retirement on a fixed income will drain you faster than you think."

Read also

"Her self-esteem": Mum in South Korea shows how she is normalising being a foreigner for her child

When asked what young South Africans who cannot find work should be doing right now, so they do not end up in the same position later in life, he said:

"Young people, use this time. Do not sit and wait for a job to come to you. There are free and affordable certifications online in fields like data analytics, cloud computing and cybersecurity, and employers are hiring people with those skills right now. Also, start saving something, even if it is R200 or R300 a month. I know it sounds like nothing, but money that sits in an investment account from your twenties grows into something serious by the time you are older. And do not rely only on formal employment. Look at freelancing, look at small business, look at what skill you have that someone will pay for. The market is tough, but sitting still is not the answer."

Watch the TikTok clip below:

Netizens respond to young woman's job market frustration

The comments hit hard and fast on TikToker @desarah29's clip:

@Lelomo said:

"I put my degree aside and applied for an admin job that only needed matric. They said I was too advanced and that I typed faster than them. Did not get the job."

Read also

"God help us": Nigerian woman shares honest reasons why South African women can't live in Nigeria

@Nomaryza wrote:

"When they say must have your own vehicle."

@Angel_5_7_13 said:

"My son has a Bachelor of Accounting Science. He is too qualified for entry level and has no experience for senior positions. He is stuck in this ridiculous cycle."

@user8126205706653 added:

"Been unemployed for more than 3 years. I have a BCom, I apply daily, I have tailored my CV numerous times, even removed my degree and still no luck. Most roles are advertised for formality because the company already has someone in mind."

@Priyan wrote:

"We also have a crisis of students taking the path of least resistance. Too many people are choosing oversaturated degrees instead of studying scarce skills the market actually needs."

@Omar said:

"There are jobs available but everyone is too picky to start at the bottom."

More on work and money

• Briefly News recently reported on a university student working five jobs at the same time and how she manages her schedule had Mzansi calling her a superwoman.
• A South African woman working in New Zealand opened up about what corporate life is really like as a Black immigrant.
• A KZN cash and carry store was shut down after a LACO member alleged workers were being paid just over R10 an hour.

Source: Briefly News