STATISTICS South Africa (Stats SA) has released the latest unemployment numbers in Mzansi.
The unemployment rate fell by 0,8% to 34,5% in the first quarter of 2022.
The country experienced the highest unemployment rate on record in the fourth quarter of 2021, at 35,3%.
Today, 31 May, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2022.
Maluleke stated that 370 000 jobs were gained between the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year.
Community and social services added the most jobs at 281 000, followed by manufacturing at 263 000 and trade at 98 000.
There were also job losses in private households at
186 000, finance at 72 000, construction at 60 000 and agriculture at 23 000.
“The total number of persons employed was 14,9 million in the first quarter of 2022.
“The number of unemployed persons decreased by 60 000 to 7,9 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the previous quarter.
“The number of discouraged work seekers decreased by 54 000 (1,4%), and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 112 000 (0,8%) between the two quarters resulting in a net decrease of 166 000 in the not economically active population,” Maluleke said.
Stats SA said the changes in employment resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 0,8% from 35,3% in the fourth quarter of last year, to 34,5% in the first quarter of this year.
Although there was a slight decline in the number of unemployed youth in quarter one of this year, Stats SA said the youth remained vulnerable in the labour market.
The first quarter of this year saw the total number of unemployed youth aged 15-34 declining by 0,1% or 5 000 to 4,7 million from quarter four of last year.
There was a noticeable increase in the number of youth in employment by 5,0% or 244 000 during the same period.
