Cabinet sees uptick in manufacturing despite dire jobless stats
The government has committed to working with the business and labour sector to create more job opportunities.
This after South Africa’s unemployment rate increased from 32.9% in the first quarter of 2024 to 33.5% in the second quarter.
Compared to the first quarter, the expanded unemployment rate in the second quarter increased by 0.7% to 42.6%.
Briefing the media on Thursday on the outcomes of the cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said government is hard at work tackling the unemployment rate in the country.
“The number of unemployment persons increased by 158,000 to 8.4 million people during the same quarter. An analysis of the employment by industry reveals a decrease in the number of employed individuals within the five of the 10 industries between quarter one and two of 2024.
“Employment decreases were mainly in the trade with 110,000 decrease, agriculture 45,000 and private households 18,000. However, the latest increases in employment were recorded in the manufacturing with 49,000 more people employed and community and social services 36?000.
“The increase in the number of employment in manufacturing indicates an economy that is starting to create products within the country and we are hoping to strengthen that. Cabinet has committed to work to strengthen the creation of more jobs and in partnership with business and labour,” added Ntshavheni.
ALSO READ:
