This decrease follows the creation of 132 000 new jobs during the period. However, the expanded definition of unemployment, which includes discouraged job seekers, remains unchanged at 42%.

The Acting Deputy Director-General for Population and Social Statistics, Solly Molayi, highlighted that four key industries contributed to employment growth.

“We have ten industries, and four of them generated jobs, finance, manufacturing, private households, and transport. The finance sector saw the largest increase, adding approximately 232 000 jobs,” Molayi explained.

Conversely, job losses were recorded in community and social services, including education and healthcare, as well as in trade. Despite overall losses in the trade sector, seasonal hiring in hotels and restaurants saw an upswing during the festive season.

Youth unemployment remains a significant challenge, with those aged 15-24 facing an unemployment rate of 59.6%, while individuals aged 25-34 stand at 39.4%.

Molayi pointed out that young people with only a matric qualification face particularly high unemployment rates compared to graduates or those with tertiary education.

“The absorption rate, the rate at which the economy integrates young job seekers, is simply not sufficient to generate meaningful employment for the youth. This trend has persisted in previous quarters and remains a pressing issue,” he said.

--ChannelAfrica--