Something Cool - Reimaginning Employment in South Africa with Kate Philips

What happens when a country treats employment as a public good, not just a market outcome? In this episode of Something Cool—a CivicPunks series that spotlights bold thinkers reshaping the public sector—I sit down with Kate Phillip, Program Lead for South Africa's Presidential Employment Stimulus Program, one of the most ambitious public employment programs in the world. South Africa is facing a deep unemployment crisis. But instead of leaving it solely to the market, Kate and her team asked a radical question: What if government took direct responsibility for creating meaningful work? The result? A nation-scale initiative that’s not only creating jobs—but reshaping how we think about state capacity, dignity, and development. We talk about: How the program came to be—and why the President got involved What it takes to build something like this within government The principles behind “creating work that serves the public good” Lessons for other countries grappling with unemployment or precarious work Kate’s work challenges the status quo—and offers a blueprint for governments around the world. “Employment is too important to leave just to the market.” — Kate Phillip 🎧 Listen in. Be inspired. Learn how public servants are building better futures.