Copano Gunbi | May 13, 2025
South Africa's unemployment rate rose in the first quarter of this year. Statisticians worry that an increasing number of people seem to have given up looking for jobs.
South Africa's unemployment rate rose in the first quarter of this year. Statisticians worry that an increasing number of people seem to have given up looking for jobs.
The country's official unemployment rate (the highest in the world) rose to 32.9% from 31.9% in the last quarter last year to 32.9%.
The expanded definition of unemployment rose from 41.9% to 43.1%, including those who were not discouraged from looking for jobs.
Desiree Manamela, director of Labor Statistics at STATS SA, said there are indications that more people of working age are losing hope for their jobs to come true.
“The rise in disappointing workers is a concern as we want to see them working in the labour market in search of employment and participation,” Manamera said at a news conference.
Five of the 10 industries tracked by the statistical agency recorded employment, with five declining. The biggest jobs lost were in the trade and construction sectors, while the transportation and financial sectors added the largest numbers of jobs.
Black women and young people remained particularly vulnerable to unemployment, with unemployment rates of 39.8% and 46.1% respectively in the first quarter.
It is a priority to reduce unemployment in the national unified government formed last year after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since apartheid ended in 1994.
The unemployment rate has been rising since 2016, exceeding 30% over the past five years.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced A new set of reforms The program aims to boost economic growth and job creation and expand the programme launched in 2020.
Isizulu's Operation Vulindlela, meaning “opening the way,” has achieved several successes, including electricity blackouts, but it still doesn't produce meaningful dents in unemployment.
“Disclaimer – the views and opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and are not necessarily those of the Bee Room.”
