109 000 new jobs created in Johannesburg
JOBURG – The Democratic Alliance recently announced that they have created 109 000 new jobs in the city.
Last week, the country endured the disturbing news of the continued rise in the unemployment rate to 37,2 per cent in the second quarter of 2018.
Despite this news, the City of Johannesburg bucked the provincial and national trends and has produced 109 000 new jobs in the first two quarters of 2018 and reduced the expanded unemployment rate from 32,3 per cent to 30,8 per cent.
This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Stats SA earlier this week, which has demonstrated two consecutive quarters of job growth in Johannesburg.
According to a statement released by Herman Mashaba, executive mayor for the City of Joburg, this growth in Johannesburg has taken place at a time where 418 000 joined the ranks of the unemployed nationally and 115 000 more in Gauteng over the same period.
The latest jobs statistics for the City show that, steadily, change that creates jobs is taking root in Johannesburg and a greater degree of business confidence is developing.
This has been apparent by the City achieving a record R8,7 billion in investment in the 2017/18 financial year, exceeding our targets by more than R3 billion.
“Since coming into office, our multi-party government has worked to introduce a number of new initiatives intended to stimulate Joburg’s economy and, in the process, kick-start a period of growth that will lead to sustained growth in jobs,” said Mashaba.
He said the City has focused on the fundamental requirements that produce the requisite environment to foster economic and job growth in Johannesburg.
“These relate to infrastructure renewal, the stability of services, establishing the rule of law and moving towards a professional civil service.
“By attracting investment from property developers and, in turn, turning our inner city into a construction site, we will create jobs as well as post-construction. Training opportunities will also be created for 300 young would-be artisans, who would then go on to ply their trade and earn a decent living,” said the mayor.
Mashaba said that it is clear they still have a mountain to climb in Johannesburg. “Many of the challenges we face will take years to undo the damage of decades of government corruption and failure. However, for the first time, Johannesburg is moving in the right direction, generating confidence in our city.
“We will work tirelessly to generate further growth in Johannesburg without resting until many more people enjoy the dignity that comes from work.”
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