Q1 unemployment data shows SA youth remain vulnerable in labour market - Stats SA
Community and social services, construction as well as finance recorded the biggest losses.
FILE: Unemployed builders, tilers and plumbers hold signs seeking jobs on the side of the road in Johannesburg. Picture: AFP
JOHANNESBURG - The latest unemployment data shows that the youth remain vulnerable in South Africa's labour market, with young people accounting for most of the job losses in the first quarter of this year.
Unemployment rose by 0.8%, up from last year’s 32.1%.
Community and social services, construction as well as finance recorded the biggest losses.
Of the 330,000 people who became unemployed, 236,000 were between the ages of 15 and 34.
"The number of employed youths decreased by 7,000 to 2.5 million, while the number of unemployed youths increased by 236,000 to 4.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, resulting in the youth unemployment rate increasing by 1.3 of a percentage point to 45.5% in the first quarter of 2024," said director of labour statistics at Stats SA, Dihlolelo Phoshoko.