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South Africa’s unemployment rate hits 29%

Cyril Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa / AFP PHOTO / RODGER BOSCH

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa’s unemployment rate in Q2 2019 grew by 1.4% to 29%, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday. The figure is the highest unemployment rate in the country in more than a decade. The highest level was 29,3% in March 2003

In real terms, 6.7-million people in South Africa’s 23-million strong labour force were without a job in Q2 2019.

Just 16.3-million were employed. 2.7-million people were regarded as “discouraged work seekers”. so this figure could be even larger depending on how you describe “unemployment”.

South Africa’s “expanded” unemployment rate — factoring in said discouraged work seekers and those with other reasons for not seeking jobs — sits at 38.5%.

In the same Q2, 21 000 more people were employed than in Q1.

The informal sector contributed to 114 000 more jobs in Q2 2019, but employment in private households and the formal non-agricultural sectors plummeted by just under 100 000.

Read SA Stats tweet on the regional dimension of the unemployment :

Stats SA

@StatsSA

The labour force participation rate increased by 0,7 of a percentage point from 59,1% in Q2:2009 to 59,8% in Q2:2019 http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211&SCH=7620 

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Stats SA

@StatsSA

The Eastern Cape recorded has the highest unemployment rate ( 35,4%) while the North West recorded the highest expanded unemployment rate (46,6%). Q2:2019 Q2:2019=29,0%

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And also where the jobs are:

Stats SA

@StatsSA

21 000 more people were employed in Q2:2019 compared with Q1:2019. 16,3 million of the working age population was employed in Q2:2019 http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211&SCH=7620 

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Stats SA

@StatsSA

The trade, services & industries recorded the biggest gains in employment while private households, transport & recorded the biggest declines http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0211&SCH=7620 

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