Economic crisis deepens as SA’s unemployment rate rises to highest since 2008
The country’s unemployment rate rose to 32.6 percent between January and March 2021.
Government’s statistics agency Stats SA released the first quarter figures on Tuesday morning.
This is an increase of 0.1 of a percentage point from the previous quarter, making it the highest since 2008.
Stats SA says 28,000 fewer people were employed since the start of the year.
“The number of Not Economically Active persons increased by 164 000 in Q1:2021 compared to Q4:2020.
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“The labour force participation rate decreased by 0,2 of a percentage point from 56,6% in Q4:2020 to 56,4% in Q1:2021,” the stats agency adds.
Graduate unemployment is now 23,3% points lower than the national official unemployment rate.
The expanded definition which includes discouraged work-seekers showed 0.6 of a percentage point increase to 43,2% in quarter 1.
“Eastern Cape C recorded the highest official and expanded unemployment rates.
“Limpopo, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces have more than 15,0 percentage points difference between their expanded and official unemployment rates,” says Stats SA.
