#Unemployment trends in South Africa as jobless rate rises

south africa flag human rights day chris eason flickr

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.

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.

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”.

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

Others brushed off their now-stale Zuma memes.

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

Andy Walker, former editor
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