South Africa’s official unemployment rate has risen to 32.6% between January and March 2021.
Statistics South Africa said the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 201 000 (6,9%), and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 38 000 (0,3%) between the two quarters, resulting in a net increase of 164 000 in the not economically active population.
These minor changes resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0,1 of a percentage point from 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 32,6% in the first quarter of 2021 – the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008.
The official unemployment rate among youth (15-34 years) was 46,3% in Quarter 1 2021. The rate was 9,3% among university graduates.
Some industries created jobs while others lost jobs between quarter 4 2020 and quarter 1 2021, resulting in a net decline of 28000 in total employment.
Employment mainly increased in Finance (up by 215 000) and other industries that had job gains include Community and Social Services (16 000), Utilities (16 000), Mining (12 000), and Manufacturing (7 000).
Job losses were observed in Construction (87 000), Trade (84 000), Private households (70 000), Transport (40 000), and Agriculture (18 000).
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