6.1 million South Africans unemployed – Stats SA

SOUTH AFRICA’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.5% in the second quarter (Q2) 2018 – meaning that at least 6,1 million people of working age in SA are unemployed.

This was revealed after Stats SA released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q2 of 2018 this morning.

The number of employed people in SA dropped by 90 000 between Q1:2018 and Q2:2018; with private households recording a growth of 22 000 jobs while the informal sector shed 73 000 jobs.

Stats SA noted that while employment losses were mainly driven by the manufacturing, services and trade industries, the transport (54 000), construction (45 000) and mining (38 000) industries were main drivers in job growth in Q2:2018.

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Close to a third (29,3%) of all people employed in Q2:2018 were working in elementary and domestic work occupations.

The survey also highlighted that black women remain the most vulnerable, with only a third of black women of working age being unemployed in Q2:2018

It further noted that at least 4,2 million (68,8%) unemployed people in SA have been without employment for 12 months or more.

Although Limpopo and KZN have low unemployment rates, absorption rates show less than 40% of the working age population employed in these provinces.

The North West recorded the highest rate of young people (15-24) not in employment, education or training with 38.7% followed by Northern Cape (38.1%) and KwaZulu-Natal (34.6%).

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