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SA unemployment rate breaks new record, black women still most vulnerable

South Africa’s unemployment rate soared passed the 35% threshold in the fourth quarter, according to Statistic South Africa’s (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS).

Unemployment in South Africa grew by 0.4 of a percentage point to reach 35.3% in the final quarter (Q4) of 2021, according to Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke.

South Africa now has an employed workforce of 14.5 million (an increase of approximately 262,000), while unemployed persons now number 7.9 million (278,000 more since 2021 Q3).

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Black African women are still the most vulnerable, with an unemployment rate of 42,4% during Q4 of 2021 – approximately 4,2 percentage points higher than the national average.

In addition, youth aged 15 and 24 years of age – as well as the group 25 to 34 years – recorded the highest unemployment rates (66,5% and 43,5% respectively).

Stats SA said the changes in the labour market resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0.4 of a percentage point from 34.9% in Q3.

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Also read: ManpowerGroup SA: More jobs in SA soon

“The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition of unemployment decreased by 0.4 of a percentage point to 46.2 % in quarter 4 2021 compared to quarter 3 2021,” Maluleke said.

Meanwhile, formal sector employment increased by 143,000 jobs between the third and fourth quarters of 2021.

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The informal sector, however, lost approximately 48,000 jobs during the same period. The manufacturing and construction industries were the most severely affected.

Employment during Covid-19

As per Stats SA, 92.1% of the employed workforce continued to receive a salary during lockdown in the fourth quarter (92,2% during Q3.)

Of the 14.5 million persons who were employed during Q4, eight in every 10 (85.5%) employees were expected to work during the national lockdown by their employers.

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ALSO READ: 3.9m unemployed South Africans give up hope of finding jobs

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By Cheryl Kahla