Unemployment Rate Falls in First Quarter

By: Zilungile Mkhize

South Africa’s unemployment rate has dropped to 34.5% in the first quarter of 2022 from 35.3% in the final quarter of last year.

Statistics South Africa says the number of unemployed persons in the country totalled 7.862 million people in the three months to end-March this year.

The agency says the economy rebounded quicker than expected from the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

According to the latest data, an estimated 370 000 jobs were gained between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

The biggest job gains were recorded in community and social services, manufacturing and trade, while there were job losses in private households, finance, construction and agriculture.

Unemployment is highest among those aged 24 years and below at 63.9% and 25 to 34 years at 42.1%.