South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased slightly in the second quarter of 2024, rising to 33.2% from 32.9% in the previous quarter, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The data shows that the number of unemployed people grew from 8.2 million to 8.4 million, pushing the jobless rate up by 0.3 percentage points. Statistician General Risenga Maluleke highlighted that black African women bear the brunt of unemployment, with a rate of 40.2%—7 percentage points higher than the national average. On the expanded definition (including discouraged job seekers), this figure jumps to 51%, representing nearly 6 million black African women without work.
Key Findings from the QLFS Report:
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Graduate unemployment has risen, with many new job seekers entering the market after completing studies.
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Only four out of ten sectors showed job gains, with trade leading at 88,000 new jobs, followed by finance and construction.
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KwaZulu-Natal saw the most job creation, while the Western Cape recorded the highest losses.
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Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) remains alarmingly high, with 3.6 million young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
Economic and Social Concerns
An Economics Editor noted that while 19,000 jobs were created, 140,000 were lost in the same period, exacerbating economic strain. Maluleke warned that persistent joblessness among women and youth could deepen social inequality and economic instability.
Political reactions are expected as pressure mounts on the government to address the crisis. Analysts warn that without urgent intervention, South Africa’s unemployment rate—already one of the highest in the world—could worsen, fueling further socio-economic challenges.