Unemployment in South Africa increases

By Khanyisa Tabata
29 July 2009


South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of this year, says Statistics South Africa.

StatsSA’s Quarterly Labour Force study showed that the number of people in the labour force decreased by 325 000 from 17.8 million in the first quarter of 2009 to 17.5 million in the second quarter from April to June.

It has been reported that, the number of jobs fell by 267 000 between the two quarters.

This did not translate to an increase in the number of unemployed people but rather pointed to the number of people who are not economically active, which was at 419 000.

It is has been reported that SA Deputy Director General for Population and Social Statistics Kefiloe Masiteng said that the economy is not creating jobs.

People are losing jobs in big numbers. The economy is not growing. It has also been reported that she added that the community and social services are not badly affected.

On a quarter to quarter basis the number of people employed in both the formal and informal sector decreased while the absorption rate of people into the labour market in quarter two also declined.

Stats SA noted that discouraged job seekers who are described as those who have given up on finding work and not having jobs in the area they live in accounted for 302 000.

Statistician General, Pali Lehohla, said times were hard and people had given up looking for work.