SALDRU participation in the GTAC and National Treasury 2026 Public Economics Conference

The Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) and the National Treasury hosted the 2026 Public Economics Conference from the 7^th to the 9^th of July 2026 in Pretoria. The conference, themed “Counting the Crisis: Data, Evidence, and Solutions for Youth Unemployment in South Africa”, brought together academics, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and postgraduate students to engage with one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges. This was an extremely memorable experience for me as a postgraduate student who is increasingly passionate about using survey data to conduct meaningful research on the South African labour market.

As a long-time admirer of the work that SALDRU does, I was excited and proud to see several Saldrupians featured on the conference programme. A fellow student delegate jokingly remarked over breakfast, “I see you brought your entire people to the conference.” That comment captured the pride I felt being in a space where I could learn from researchers whose work has inspired my own academic journey. Prof. Vimal Ranchhod, Director of SALDRU, presented findings from the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) on youth unemployment trends and informality in South Africa. Dr Josh Budlender, a Senior Research Officer in SALDRU, presented research on the productivity and multiplier effects of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). Andrew Donaldson, Senior Research Associate at SALDRU, joined a panel discussion on employment tax incentive reforms, while Prof. Ariane De Lannoy, Deputy Director of SALDRU, together with Prof. Lauren Graham from the CSDA, presented work on the Basic Package of Support (BPS), a youth unemployment intervention developed through collaboration between SALDRU, the University of Johannesburg, and other partners.

One of my biggest reflections from the conference was the importance of correctly diagnosing the youth unemployment crisis before thinking about solutions. The emphasis on quality data and evidence highlighted the need to better understand the different realities of young people who are unable to access the labour market, particularly across both the formal and informal sectors. This resonated deeply with me, reinforcing the importance of using data to understand South Africa’s labour market challenges. Beyond the sessions, being in a room with researchers, policymakers, and fellow students reminded me of the importance of spaces that bring people together to learn from one another and strengthened my confidence in the contribution that young researchers can make to these conversations.