#Unemployment trends in South Africa as jobless rate rises

South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.5% to 27.2% between April and June 2018, according to Stats SA’s latest report.

More than 100 000 jobs were lost during this three month period.

Additionally, some 6.1-million South Africans between the ages of 15 and 64 do not have a job.

South Africa’s #unemployment rate was 27,2% in Q2:2018, up from 26,7% in Q1:2018

6,1m people of working age in SA were #unemployed #StatsSA https://t.co/srPxmTL6WA pic.twitter.com/UyQv8kKACY

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) July 31, 2018

The worst performing province was the Free State with an unemployment rate of 34.4%. While the Eastern Cape reduced its unemployment rate by 1.4%, its overall rate remains at 34.2%.

The Western Cape (54.5%) and Gauteng (49.8%) have the highest absorption rate — the percentage of its population currently employed.

Although #Limpopo & #KZN have low #unemployment rates, absorption rates show less than 40% of the working age population employed in these provinces #StatsSA https://t.co/srPxmTL6WA pic.twitter.com/KEVSxDtHHU

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) July 31, 2018

The hashtag #unemployment, unsurprisingly, began trending across Twitter in South Africa on Tuesday afternoon after @StatsSA and @SAGovNews began the conversation.

Users responded with criticism aimed at the government, the ANC in particular, and the “legislative environment”.

Frightening but expected with all the corruption in Gov and the rate companies are closing or pulling out of SA as well as the fact that people are not necessarily employed because of their expertise and/or qualifications but for other reasons.

— Ctea (@Ctea_tweet) July 31, 2018

It’s difficult for smaller employers to create or maintain jobs. The legislative environment is not conducive to job creation. It’s too difficult to get rid of an employee who doesn’t fit into the ethos of your business. If I could fire him, I would have hired him

— Theo de Jager (@TheoDJager) July 31, 2018

I assume the stats for ” jobs for pals and nepotism ” would exceed the stats of unemployment in South Africa.

— Dumb_Nerd (@Lycan_213) July 31, 2018

These figures actually mean that:
1. Government is not serious about creating jobs.

2. Government is not planning to take any criminal action against those who continue to loot Municipal, Provincial and National Budgets to the tune of Billions of Rands.#Unemployment#StatsSA

— Hlubi Hendricks (@HlubiHendricks) July 31, 2018

The ANC couldn’t run a bath let alone a country. Embarrassing

— Rational Gent 🇿🇦 (@gent_rational) July 31, 2018

Others called out the validity of the stats, suggesting that they should be much higher.

I have a look around me and I find it hard to believe that the #Unemployment rate is only 27%.

I can’t help but feel that there are certain aspects of the stats that are being covered up or ignored.

— Moé (@MOHALE94) July 31, 2018

bullshit stats, unemployment is way above this. Maybe only 20% of varsity mates are employed. Wonder where these stats come from

— Sizwe Vilakazi (@sizwetynan) July 31, 2018

Others brushed off their now-stale Zuma memes.

Lol it’s a new dawn.. pic.twitter.com/OAfJilf7tZ

— Kim (@Thina81966639) July 31, 2018

pic.twitter.com/bJ6VjkSlsd

— Mfundo Bhengu (@mfundoSS1) July 31, 2018

Jacob Zuna looking at new #Unemployment rate like pic.twitter.com/BYUyF4ctw4

— Uncle Mohale 🐦 (@MoLeboko) July 31, 2018

Feature image: Chris Eason via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY)