The Western Cape government says despite shedding over 100,000 jobs between the first and second quarters of 2025, the province recorded a net gain of 69,000 jobs over the past year.
The MEC of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, was commenting on the latest labour force survey released by Stats SA yesterday.
With the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa at 21.1%, the province outperformed the national rate of 33.2%.
Meyer says year-on-year growth was led by trade, agriculture, and transport, with agriculture alone adding 40,000 opportunities.
However, between the first and second quarter of 2025, 117,000 employment opportunities were lost, the most of any province.
The Western Cape usually sees job growth between quarters, but the shedding of these jobs is ascribed to seasonal farm jobs.
“Despite short-term quarter-on-quarter contractions in some sectors due to seasonal and cyclical factors, year-on-year data paints a picture of robust structural growth. The formal non-agricultural sector added 45 000 jobs, and the informal sector grew by 8 000 jobs compared to Q2 2024.”
Meyer says this points to the resilience of the local economy.
“These results affirm the Western Cape’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive economy. Our province continues to outperform national benchmarks, offering better employment opportunities and demonstrating resilience in key industries such as agriculture and trade.”
Key Highlights:
- Employment Growth: The province added 69,000 jobs year-on-year, a 2.6% increase, outpacing the national growth rate of 0.9%.
- Labour Market Strength: The Western Cape has the highest absorption rate (53.5%) and one of the highest labour force participation rates (67.9%) in the country.
- Sectoral Gains: Six out of ten sectors saw job growth year-on-year, led by
o Trade: +42 000 jobs
o Agriculture: +40 000 jobs (a 24.7% increase)
o Transport: +23 000 jobs - Women in the Workforce: The Western Cape continues to lead in female labour market participation and professional representation, with the lowest female unemployment rate in the country and the highest proportion of women in professional roles in 2024.
Meyer concluded that the Western Cape Government remains dedicated to supporting job creation, economic development, and inclusive growth across all sectors and communities.
