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News24 reports that the official unemployment rate fell by 1.3 percentage points to 31.9% in the third quarter, compared to the second quarter this year.
This was due in part to the construction sector, where employment increased by more than 10% in the three months. Employment in trade, mining and agriculture also grew, helping to contain losses in manufacturing and financial services. This was the first fall in the quarterly unemployment rate so far in 2025. Of the provinces, only the Eastern Cape saw an increase in unemployment. More than a third of the 10.3 million (or 33.9%) people aged between 15 and 24 years were not in employment, education or training, Statistics SA reported.
According to the latest data, unemployment among graduates fell in the third quarter from 12.2% to 10.4%, while 38% of those without matric were jobless. The unemployment rate among the black African (35.8%) population group remained much higher than other population groups. Over the past ten years, the number of unemployed people in South Africa increased from 5.4 million to 8.0 million, with those in long-term unemployment rising from 66% to 77%.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Helena Wasserman at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
- Read too, Unemployment falls for first time this year, at Moneyweb
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page