Apr 30, 2021 A youth development programme has been launched by SAPICS, the professional body for supply chain management, that aims to address youth unemployment in South Africa, the skills deficit in the supply chain field, and to ensure that young professionals are industry-ready for job opportunities in the dynamic and increasingly critical supply chain management field. According to Stats SA, there is a staggering unemployment rate of 63,2% among young South Africans. The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of supply chain management, and the need to build a pipeline of talent in this skills-strapped field. Many graduates lack the skills, resources and experience, however, to capitalise on opportunities in the profession.