YES Programme for Employers South Africa (2026) | Complete

The Youth Employment Service (YES) Programme is one of the most powerful instruments available to South African employers for simultaneously addressing youth unemployment, building talent pipelines, and improving B-BBEE compliance. Since its launch in 2018, the programme has created more than 120,000 work experiences for young South Africans — and for employers who use it strategically, it delivers commercial value that far exceeds its cost.

This guide covers everything South African employers need to know about participating in the YES Programme in 2026: how it works, what it costs, how to register, and how to combine it with graduate recruitment for maximum strategic and compliance value. For the broader graduate hiring context, see our complete guide to graduate recruitment in South Africa.

How the YES Programme Works

The YES Programme is a business-led initiative, not a government programme — although it operates within the B-BBEE legislative framework. The mechanics are straightforward:

Employers register with the YES Programme through yes4youth.co.za and commit to placing a specified number of youth in 12-month work experiences.

Participants are placed in quality work experiences within the employer's business. "Quality" means meaningful work that develops skills — not filing or photocopying. Participants must receive a minimum stipend aligned with the National Minimum Wage.

B-BBEE verification recognises the employer's participation. Meeting the YES Programme requirements can improve your B-BBEE level by up to one full level — a significant commercial benefit for businesses competing in procurement-driven markets.

What YES Costs Employers — and What It Returns

The direct cost of a YES placement is the participant's stipend (minimum R27.58/hour, approximately R4,800/month full-time), plus any training or programme administration costs. For a 12-month placement, budget R60,000–R80,000 per participant including all overheads.

The return is a B-BBEE level improvement of up to one full level. For businesses competing in environments where B-BBEE levels determine procurement outcomes, this improvement can be worth multiples of the programme cost in secured contracts and supplier preference.

Additional returns include: 12 months of real-world evaluation of potential permanent employees, skills development contributions toward your B-BBEE scorecard, and positive employer brand positioning as a youth-employment champion.

Combining YES with Graduate Recruitment

The most strategic use of the YES Programme for employers is as a pipeline — not a standalone initiative. Here is the model that delivers maximum value:

Source graduates through ShiftMate. Use ShiftMate's free platform to source and evaluate graduates through paid trial shifts. You see their actual work performance before making any commitment. This eliminates the primary risk of YES placement — investing 12 months in a participant who doesn't fit.

Place proven graduates into YES positions. Graduates who perform well in their trial shift enter your YES Programme with a strong foundation — you already know they can do the work, and they already understand your business environment.

Convert high performers to permanent roles. After the 12-month YES placement, you have extensive performance data to support permanent hiring decisions. The graduate transitions into your graduate programme or a permanent role with minimal ramp-up time.

This three-stage approach — trial shift, YES placement, permanent hire — compounds your B-BBEE benefits while building a genuine talent pipeline. The trial-shift stage costs nothing (ShiftMate is free), the YES stage delivers a B-BBEE level improvement, and the permanent hire delivers long-term talent value.

Eligibility Requirements

Employer Requirements

• Must be a registered South African business
• Must be a B-BBEE-measured entity (annual revenue above the applicable threshold)
• Must commit to placing a specified number of youth relative to workforce size
• Must provide quality work experiences — not menial or administrative make-work
• Must pay at least the National Minimum Wage

Participant Requirements

• South African citizen or permanent resident
• Aged 18–35
• Currently unemployed
• No specific qualification requirement (ranges from matric holders to graduates)

How to Register for the YES Programme

Registration is through the YES website at yes4youth.co.za. The process involves business verification, commitment to participant numbers, and agreement to programme terms including minimum stipend and quality work experience requirements.

Once registered, you can source participants through multiple channels — including ShiftMate for trial-shift-evaluated candidates. The YES Programme does not restrict your sourcing methods; it sets standards for the quality and duration of the work experience you provide.

Common Mistakes Employers Make with YES

Treating it as cheap labour. YES participants who do menial work for minimum wage leave negative impressions — and word spreads. Treat the programme as a genuine talent development investment.

No conversion pathway. If you have no plan to hire top performers permanently, you're investing in development that benefits your competitors. Build conversion pathways from the start.

Poor sourcing. Placing random participants without evaluation leads to high attrition and wasted investment. Use ShiftMate's trial-shift model to evaluate candidates on real work before placing them in 12-month YES positions.

Source and evaluate YES candidates free on ShiftMate →

Related Reading

• Graduate Recruitment in South Africa: Complete 2026 Guide
• B-BBEE and Graduate Hiring: Skills Development Guide
• How to Design a Graduate Programme in SA

Optimising Your Financial & Strategic Returns with the YES Programme

R60,000 in ETI savings per qualifying youth annually represents a powerful financial incentive for companies participating in the YES Programme in 2026. Beyond merely offsetting costs, understanding the full spectrum of financial and strategic returns is key to unlocking the programme's immense value. The YES Programme is not just a corporate social responsibility initiative; it's a shrewd business investment with tangible bottom-line benefits.

One of the most immediate and impactful financial benefits is the Employee Tax Incentive (ETI). For each qualifying YES youth employed, companies can claim a substantial ETI, significantly reducing their PAYE liability. In 2026, for a youth earning between R2,000 and R6,500 monthly, the maximum ETI claimable can reach up to R1,250 per month for the first 12 months of employment, and then a reduced amount for the subsequent 12 months. This translates to a potential annual saving of up to R15,000 per youth in the first year alone, plus the additional ETI benefits in the second year if they remain employed and eligible. For companies taking on multiple YES youth, these savings quickly compound, making a significant dent in overall payroll expenses.

Secondly, the B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) advantages are game-changing. Participation in YES automatically grants your company 1 additional B-BBEE recognition point, a benefit that stands irrespective of your company's existing B-BBEE level or even if other elements of your score might decline. In the competitive South African business landscape of 2026, where B-BBEE compliance is pivotal for securing government tenders, private sector contracts, and maintaining supplier relationships, this single point can be the difference between winning and losing critical business opportunities. It signals a clear commitment to youth employment and economic transformation, enhancing your corporate reputation and market access.

Beyond direct tax incentives and B-BBEE points, the YES Programme offers considerable operational and strategic returns. By engaging with YES, companies are investing in their future talent pipeline. The 12-month work experience provided through YES allows businesses to rigorously assess potential permanent employees, significantly reducing future recruitment costs and the risks associated with hiring. Many companies report high retention rates for their YES alumni, converting them into full-time staff who are already familiar with the company culture and operations. This leads to reduced onboarding time, increased productivity, and lower staff turnover.

Furthermore, the programme fosters a positive brand image and corporate social responsibility (CSR) standing. In a society grappling with high youth unemployment, actively participating in a solution like YES positions your company as a responsible corporate citizen. This can enhance customer loyalty, attract top talent (who are increasingly looking for purpose-driven organisations), and improve investor confidence. The skills development and mentorship provided not only benefit the youth but also upskill existing employees who take on supervisory roles.

Ultimately, the YES Programme, especially when strategically integrated into your human resources and B-BBEE strategies for 2026, offers a robust return on investment. The combined effect of ETI savings, a crucial B-BBEE point, reduced recruitment costs, enhanced productivity, and improved brand reputation creates a compelling case for widespread corporate participation, truly transforming lives and businesses across South Africa.