Share

SA unemployment rate down to 24.5%

Cape Town – The country’s unemployment rate declined by a percentage point in the fourth quarter of 2015, to 24.5% of the population.

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the working-age population was 36.3 million, of whom 16 million were employed, 5.2 million unemployed and 15.1 million not economically active.

Almost 66% of the unemployed were people between the ages of 15 and 34. Over half (57.6%) did not complete matric.

Year-on-year, the official unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percent of a percentage point.

Statistician General Pali Lehohla said on Thursday that the largest share of employment in the last quarter was in finance and other business sectors, trade, and community and social services.

Job losses were recorded in agriculture (37 000), manufacturing (36 000) and construction (21 000).

Lehola said that agriculture was a small but important contributor to the GDP.

Without it, “all life seizes to exist”, he said in the context of the sector’s job losses and the drought.

The losses were mainly driven by a decline in the growing of crops and combined farming of crops and animals.

Jobs in private households increased by 13 000 in the last quarter.

Lehohla addressed speculation around the survey results being re-scheduled until a day after National Budget. “As I stated, I delayed it because I had to do quality checks.”  

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.08
-0.9%
Rand - Pound
24.03
-0.6%
Rand - Euro
20.57
-0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.38
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.9%
Platinum
890.97
-0.7%
Palladium
988.99
-1.3%
Gold
2,195.56
+0.0%
Silver
24.43
-0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,885
+0.3%
All Share
74,077
+0.2%
Resource 10
56,208
+1.0%
Industrial 25
103,636
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,471
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders