TimesLIVE reports that while SA's unemployment rate continued in the third quarter of 2019 to climb to the worst levels in more than a decade, three sectors saw positive growth.
On Tuesday, Statistics SA revealed that SA’s unemployment rate hit its highest level in 11 years in the last quarter, namely 29.1%. According to Stats SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 6.7-million people were unemployed in the three months to 30 September. Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke said high declines in employment in the third quarter were recorded in the manufacturing sector, which shed 30,000 jobs, followed by construction at 24,000, trade at 21,000 and utilities at 18,000. However, the formal sector, agriculture, and the private household sectors recorded increases in the number of people employed during the period. Formal sector employment increased by 43,000, agriculture increased by 38,000 and private household employment increased by 35,000. Added to that, employment also increased quarter-on-quarter in five of the 10 surveyed occupations. The largest increase was observed in professional occupations, which were up by 122,000 jobs, followed by those in sales and services up by 89,000 and elementary up by 38,000.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at TimesLIVE
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