Unemployment Rate Hits Highest Level in 11 Years

Riyaz Patel

South Africa’s unemployment rate has climbed to its highest level in 11 years.

The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter to 29.1%, the highest since the first quarter of 2008, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said announcing the findings of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2019.

Over the past quarter, the number of unemployment people grew by 78000, while those in employment grew by only 62000 people.

The number of discouraged workers increased by 44 000 during the quarter.