Zuko Komisa

- South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen to 33.2% in the second quarter.
- The economy shed 140 000 jobs, bringing the number of unemployed people to 8.4 million.
- Only 16.8 million people are currently employed out of a working-age population of 41.8 million.
South Africa’s unemployment rate has climbed for the second consecutive quarter, reaching 33.2% in the second quarter of the year. This marks a slight increase from the 32.9% recorded in the first quarter, according to the latest figures from Statistics South Africa.
The official Quarterly Labour Force Survey reveals a challenging picture for the country’s workforce.
The number of employed individuals has fallen to 16.8 million, a significant drop that saw the economy shed 140 000 jobs over the last three months.
This brings the total number of unemployed people to 8.4 million, out of a working-age population of 41.8 million between the ages of 15 and 64.
The persistent rise in unemployment highlights the ongoing economic struggles facing the nation, with job creation failing to keep pace with the number of people seeking work. The new data, released on Tuesday morning, underscores the urgent need for strategies to stimulate the economy and create employment opportunities.
Kaya Biz spoke to Solly Molayi, Acting DDG responsible for Population and Social Statistics at Stats SA, on the latest stats.
Listen to the full conversation here:
READ NEXT: Home Affairs assures public of document safety after Germiston office torched



