This policy brief provides an overview of the evidence on the precarious connection between youth and the labour market in South Africa. Drawing on almost 10 years of data collected by the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), the brief highlights evidence on labour market exclusion among many young people and vulnerability even among those who are employed, before considering the consequences of young people's staggered transitions from school to work. The evidence collected by NIDS provides government and civil society with the opportunity to assess the implementation of existing policies and the well-being of youth