The country’s unemployment rate has dropped for the first time in a year. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the third quarterly employment figures on Tuesday and revealed that employment has increased in all sectors in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
The unemployment rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 32.1% in the third quarter. This is down from 33.5% recorded in the second quarter. This means about 294 000 more people who were employed compared to the 2nd quarter.
These statistics equate to 16,9 million citizens earning a salary and 8 million citizens of workable age who are without a job.
South Africa’s #unemployment rate decreased by 1,4 percentage points to 32,1% in Q3:2024.
#StatsSA #ZAQLFS pic.twitter.com/xaNud5WE60— Stats SA (@StatsSA) November 12, 2024
Meanwhile, the number of ‘Not Economically Active’ persons increased by 214,000 in the third quarter of this year compared to the second quarter.
South Africa however still has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, and Black South Africans continue to experience the worst unemployment levels relative to the country’s other racial groups. According to Stats SA, the unemployment rate among the Black African population group, which makes up 36,1% of the country, remains higher than the national average and other population groups.
The recent stats have also revealed that black African women continue to be the most vulnerable with an unemployment rate of 38,6% in the third quarter. This is 4,3 percentage points higher than the national average for women at 34,4%.
The black African unemployment rate has consistently been higher than the national average and other population groups over the past 10-year period.
Furthermore, the Eastern Cape has recorded the highest unemployment figures with the Western Cape recording the lowest. The North West has been identified as having the second highest unemployment rate, with Mpumalanga in third place.
NW (51,5%) recorded the highest expanded #unemployment rate in Q3:2024, followed by MP (47,8%).
Read more here: https://t.co/AUXN8mPZbf#StatsSA #ZAQLFS pic.twitter.com/noWlEZXm9O
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) November 12, 2024
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has thanked the province’s entrepreneurs for helping to push the Western Cape’s unemployment rate to below 20%. Winde says efforts to drive economic growth in the province are paying off with 75 000 jobs created between the 2nd and 3rd quarter in 2024.
“Employment is about more than just a number in a report. Every job that we add into the economy is a lasting investment into the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of our residents.”
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