South Africa's Unemployment Rate Rises to 33.5% in Q2 2024
South Africa's unemployment rate has increased by 0.6 percentage points to 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024, according to the government's statistics office. This means that approximately 8.4 million people are now out of work, a significant rise from 5.2 million in 2014.
Credit: Bloomberg
The country's economy has struggled to create jobs in recent years due to a prolonged recession and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest figures show a decline of 92,000 employed persons, bringing the total number of employed individuals to 16.7 million.
Credit: Sowetan
The sectors most affected by job losses include trade, agriculture, and construction, while manufacturing, social services, and utilities saw a slight increase in employment.
These statistics are the first to be released since the May elections, which saw a coalition government come into power with a focus on reviving the economy. Unemployment was a key issue in the election, contributing to the African National Congress (ANC) losing its absolute majority.
Credit: Guardian
The Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces experienced the most significant decreases in employment, according to the statistics office.
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