South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen to 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024, up from 32.9% in the first quarter, according to a report released Tuesday by the government’s statistics office. This increase represents a 0.6 percentage point climb in joblessness for Africa’s most industrialized economy.
The number of unemployed individuals has now reached 8.4 million, a significant increase from 5.2 million in 2014. Simultaneously, the number of employed persons decreased by 92,000 to 16.7 million in Q2 2024.
Key sectors experiencing job losses include trade, agriculture, and construction. Only manufacturing, social services, and utilities showed job growth during this period. The Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces saw the most significant decreases in employment.
This rise in unemployment comes as South Africa continues to grapple with economic challenges, including a prolonged recession and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country has struggled to create jobs in recent years, a situation that has become a critical political issue.
The unemployment figures are the first to be released since the May 2024 elections, which resulted in a coalition government. The new administration has placed economic revival at the top of its agenda, responding to the unemployment crisis that likely contributed to the African National Congress (ANC) losing its absolute majority.
As South Africa faces this growing unemployment challenge, the new government’s ability to stimulate job creation and economic growth will be closely watched by both citizens and international observers.
