Cape Town: The City’s library career expos recorded an unprecedented turnout during the first half of the year. They welcomed around 6,355 young people who attended events across the metro.
Reportedly, the figure represented a significant increase from the 4,500 attendees recorded in 2025. This highlighted growing interest among learners in exploring career and educational opportunities.
The number of career expos hosted by City of Cape Town libraries also increased from 13 in 2025 to 18 this year. They allowed more learners to connect with educational institutions, employers, government departments and community organisations.
Furthermore, integrated career expo was hosted by Wynberg, Southfield and Plumstead libraries and recorded the highest attendance, drawing 2,997 young people. Meanwhile, the Rylands Library career expo, held at Rylands High School, attracted 1,070 attendees, making it one of the most successful events of the programme.
These expos were designed to provide learners with valuable information on career pathways, tertiary education options, skills development and employment opportunities. Participants had the opportunity to engage directly with representatives from universities, colleges, businesses, government departments and non-profit organisations.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham welcomed the strong response from young people and emphasised the importance of the initiative.
Higham stated that the turnout at the expos has been phenomenal and it is inspiring to see so many driven young people make use of the events to learn about careers and opportunities available to them. She said it was a chance for them to learn about their chosen career path or cement their goals and the road that leads there. For many who are still confused about what to do, it’s an opportunity for them to gather information to make more informed decisions.
Notably, a wide range of stakeholders contributed to the success of the expos, which included local high schools, several City departments, tertiary education institutions, private companies and non-profit organisations. Among the participating organisations were the National Sea Rescue Institute, Iziko Museums and the Beekeepers Association South Africa, who offered insights to learners into diverse career fields.
The City of Cape Town has encouraged learners, parents and educators to follow its social media platforms for updates on future career expos, as it continues to expand initiatives that aim at equipping young people with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed career choices.