Unemployment rate the highest since 2003

The unemployment rate has jumped to a massive 27.7% for the first quarter of 2017, the highest since September 2003. 

This is also an increase from the 26.7% it stood at during the same time last year. 

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey, confirming that 433 000 more people were looking for jobs in the first quarter.

''The growth in employment by 144 000 was offset by the growth in the number of job seekers by 433 000, thus driving the unemployment rate to almost 30%," says Stats SA 

All industries recorded growth except agriculture, trade and services. The biggest recorded growth has been in the manufacturing industry.