Durban sees 9% unemployment rate decrease

WITH 124 000 jobs generated, Durban’s unemployment rate has decreased by 9% compared to figures from the same period last year.

Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) data for the first quarter of 2023 reveals that Durban’s official unemployment rate stands at 19.4%, showcasing a 9% decrease.

Commenting on the statistics released by StatsSA last week, eThekwini mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said it is a testament to Durban’s resilience in the face of economic downturn.

“Despite the temporary setback caused by the flooding last year and the unrest in 2021, eThekwini’s job creation efforts over the past year have been significant,” he said.

Also read: eThekwini suspends load-shedding for one day

While the City has seen a 9% decrease compared to last year’s figures, the quarter-on-quarter unemployment rate has increased from 17.6% to 19.4%. Kaunda said this may be attributed to the increase in the working-age population entering the labour force by 11 000. The labour force increased from 57.2% to 57.7%.

“eThekwini remains committed to fostering a thriving business environment and will continue its efforts to create sustainable employment opportunities for residents,” Mayor Kaunda added.

Also read: What the 1973 strikes say about unemployment today

The City has generated the second-largest number of jobs among all cities, with 124 000 new positions. The City of Johannesburg took the lead with 174 000 jobs. The City of Cape Town came in third with 114 000 jobs. Although Durban faced the challenge of losing the largest number of jobs in the past three years due to these unfortunate events, the job creation clawback in quarter one of 2023 marks a significant step towards economic recovery.

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