South Africa’s official unemployment rate has risen to 34.4% between April and June 2021.
The rate increased by 1,8 percentage points from 32,6% in the first quarter (January and March 2021) – the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008.
Employment decreasing
The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2021 show that the number of employed persons decreased by 54 000 in the second quarter of 2021 to 14,9 million.
Unemployment increasing
The number of unemployed persons increased by 584 000 to 7,8 million compared to the first quarter of 2021.
Statistics South Africa said the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 186 000 (5,9%) and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 571 000 (4.5%) between the two quarters resulting in a net decrease of 386 000 in the not economically active population.
“The results indicate that the South African labour market is more favourable to men than it is to women. Men are more likely to be in paid employment than women regardless of race. The proportion of men in employment is higher than that of women; more men than women are participating in the labour market as the labour force participation rate of men is higher than that of women; and the unemployment rate among men is lower than amongst women,” as stated in the company’s Q2:2021 report.
“The results indicate that the South African labour market is more favourable to men than it is to women. Men are more likely to be in paid employment than women regardless of race. The proportion of men in employment is higher than that of women; more men than women are participating in the labour market as the labour force participation rate of men is higher than that of women; and the unemployment rate among men is lower than amongst women.”
Employment mainly increased in Construction (up by 143 000) and other industries that had job gains include Trade (108 000), Agriculture (69 000), Private households (67 000), and Transport (66 000).
Job losses were observed in Finance (278 000), Community and Social Services (166 000), and Manufacturing (83 000).
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