SA's unemployment rate drops to 31.9%
South Africa’s unemployment rate has decreased to 31.9% in the last quarter of 2024 from 32.1% in the third quarter.
This means the unemployment rate decreased by 0,2 of a percentage.
Statistics South Africa announced the Quarterly Labour Force Survey in Pretoria on Tuesday.
During the period, there was an increase of 132 000 jobs. However, at the same time, 20 000 jobs were lost.
Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said the number of unemployed people remains at 8 million, while those employed sit at 17.1 million.
"Discouraged work-seekers increased by 111 000 (up by 3.3%), and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 93 000 (down by 0.7%) between the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2024",
"This led to an increase of 18 000 in the number of the not economically active population to 16.5 million.
"The above changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 0,2 of a percentage point from 32.1% in the third quarter of 2024 to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024" Maluleke added.
The largest increases in employment were recorded in Finance and Manufacturing.
While industries that recorded cut jobs included community and social services, construction, trade, mining, utilities, and agriculture.
The Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng had the most employment opportunities.
While significant job losses were recorded in the Free State, North West and Limpopo.
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