IOL News writes that SA’s unemployment crisis continues to deepen, with the official unemployment rate climbing from 32.9% in the first quarter to a staggering 33.5% in the second quarter.

This grim statistic is said to lay bare the government's ongoing failure to curb the relentless rise in joblessness, despite repeated promises and initiatives. Recently-appointed Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has acknowledged the troubling rise, but was quick to divert attention to the marginal increase in the number of employed persons, from 14.1 million in Q2 2020 to 16.7 million in Q2 2024. However, this growth pales in comparison to the magnitude of the unemployment crisis, and according to analysts, the Minister's optimistic outlook does little to address the harsh reality faced by millions of South Africans. Meth also pointed out that the decrease in the unemployment rate recorded in provinces such as Limpopo, Free State, and the Eastern Cape was "encouraging and commendable under the circumstances." However, the Minister also emphasised that the SA economy was not growing as expected, attributing this to global economic pressures and geopolitical challenges. Meth stressed the need for an elevated partnership between government and business to drive economic growth and job creation. She highlighted the central role of her department in coordinating efforts to combat unemployment, particularly through the Unemployment Insurance Fund's (UIF) contribution to the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hope Ntanzi at IOL News
• Read too, Corporate SA urged to help with youth unemployment, at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page