South Africa has a high youth unemployment rate, which is a key policy concern. Mechanisms to address the challenge include learnerships, internships, and work opportunities such as public employment. All of these are short-term opportunities, often seen as “stepping stones” that should enable young people to gain work experience and then take on more stable work. Combined with the growing “gig economy” and an informal labour market that makes up 28% of the economy, precarious work is a normal feature of the labour market. This study sought to answer this crucial question: To what extent does precarious work foster transitions to stable jobs?