South Africa’s official unemployment rate fell slightly in the third quarter of the year, dropping from 33.2% in the second quarter to 31.9%, according to Statistics South Africa.

Between July and September, the number of unemployed people fell to just over 8 million, down from 8.367 million in the previous quarter.

Out of the ten industries monitored by the agency, six saw employment growth while four experienced declines. Job gains were recorded in construction, community and social services, and trade.

Meanwhile, manufacturing, finance, and utilities reported job losses.

Despite the overall improvement, young people continue to face challenges in the job market.

Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Youth Employment Specialist at Momentum Group, says many young South Africans rely on informal or short-term work to make ends meet.

“The decline in the unemployment rate is very refreshing, but more needs to be done to upskill young people. We must focus on creating inclusive ecosystems that turn informal jobs into long-term livelihoods by investing in youth entrepreneurship.”

Cape Town has emerged as a leader in job creation among South African metros, adding 40,000 new jobs since the last quarter. Over the past year, the city created a total of 70,000 jobs, keeping its unemployment rate at the country’s lowest, 21.6%.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed the growth, especially for first-time job entrants.

“Jobs mean dignity and the ability to provide for your family. Cape Town aspires to be a city of hope for all, working every day to help more people out of poverty and into jobs. There is still much more to do, as unemployment remains too high.”