By: Natasha Archary
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) paints a stark reality about SA’s rising unemployment rate.
Statistics South Africa published the Q3 2021 unemployment stats which highlights how unemployment soared in the third quarter of the year.
Multiple lockdown restrictions, load shedding and the mass protests and riots that hit the country has had a devastating effect on unemployment.
Unemployment soared to record highs with 660,000 more South Africans losing their jobs. This accounts for 14.3 million people who are currently unemployed.
A 4th Covid-19 wave of infections in the country could further impact unemployment in the coming months.
According to the stats, there are differences in the national official unemployment rate versus higher education criteria.
South Africans with a tertiary qualification weigh in at 23.2% unemployed, while those with a matric certificate make up 36.5% of the rate.
Those who have an incomplete education account for 40.2% of unemployed South Africans.
SA’s unemployment rate is up 10% over the past 10 years, with the worst affected sectors being trade, community and social services.
- Trade sector saw 309K jobs lost
- Community and social services 210K
- Construction and private households 65K jobs in each category was lost
The largest unemployment numbers were recorded in:
- Gauteng – down by 200,000 jobs;
- North West – down by 128,000 jobs;
- KwaZulu-Natal – down by 123,000 jobs;
- Limpopo – down by 112,000 jobs.
Also read: How unemployment affects relationships
