The official unemployment rate in South Africa has declined further to 32.9% in the third quarter of 2022, from 33.9% in the second, Statistics SA reported. Unemployment hit a record high of 35.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021 due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) shows that 204 000 jobs were gained between the second and third quarter of 2022. The largest job gains were in the manufacturing sector (+123 000), trade (+82 000), construction (+46 000) and transport (+33 000).
On the downside job losses were recorded in the financial sector (-80 000), private households (-36 000) and mining and agriculture (-1 000). The expanded unemployment rate – which includes discouraged job seekers who have given up looking for work – decreased to 43.1% from 44.1% in the second quarter.
Despite the positive news the QLFS has faced scrutiny in recent months, amid growing concern about the reliability of SA’s employment data.
Last year Statistics SA contacted fewer than 14 300 households but was meant to collect data on the employment status of 33 000 households – this data is then extrapolated to determine the jobless rates for around 40 million adults in the country.