Unemployment rate rises in Q2

THE South African unemployment rate has increased to 34.4% in the second quarter, with the number of people employed dropping by 54 000.

The rate jumped by 1.8 percentage point from 32.6% recorded in the first quarter.

According to the report released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) on Tuesday, the country’s labour market is more favourable to men than it is to women.

‘The proportion of men in employment is higher than that of women.

'The rate of unemployment among women was 36.8% in the second quarter of 2021, compared to 32.4% among men.

‘The unemployment rate among black African women was 41% during this period compared to 8.2% among white women, 22.4% among Indian/Asian women and 29.9% among coloured women,’ said Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke.

He said some industries created employment while others shed jobs between the first and second quarters.

‘Employment mainly increased in construction (up by 143 000). Other industries that had job gains include trade (108 000), agriculture (69 000), private households (67 000) and transport (66 000).

'Job losses were observed in finance

(278 000), community and social services (166 000) and manufacturing (83 000),’ he said.

Maluleke said the Covid-19 pandemic has played a major role in unsettling the country's labour market.

'Most firms have closed down and that has certainly had an impact which is observed in the rise in the unemployment rate.

'We were sitting at about 29% at the time Covid-19 arrived on our shores, but are now sitting with five percentage points more.'