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Employment and Labour Minister Mr. Thulas Nxesi has expressed cautious optimism despite the marginal decline in official unemployment rate in the first quarter.

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) this week announced that the official unemployment rate which was 35,3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021 had declined marginally to 34,5 percent in the first quarter of 2022. According to Stats SA's results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Quarter1: 2022 results indicate that 370 000 jobs were gained between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

Minister Nxesi said the marginal decrease in unemployment figures by 0,8 of a percentage point from 35,3% in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 34,5% in the first quarter of 2022 was still “stubbornly high". Minister Nxesi said the South African economy needs resilient and sustained economic growth.

The Minister reiterates his Budget Vote comments that the Department wishes to contribute to training of the unemployed as part of government initiatives to stimulate the creation of jobs in the labour market. He said the department through the Unemployment Insurance Fund's Labour Activation Programme (LAP), “has taken a strategic direction that training of the unemployed should be demand-led and lead to employment at the end of the training period".

According to Stats SA the biggest job gains were recorded in Community and Social Services (281 000), Manufacturing (263 000) and Trade (98 000). However, there were job losses in Private households (186 000), Finance (72 000), Construction (60 000) and Agriculture (23 000). The total number of persons employed was 14,9 million in the first quarter of 2022.

The agency said the number of unemployed persons decreased by 60 000 to 7,9 million in the 1st quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter. The number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by 54 000 (1,4%) and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 112 000 (0,8%) between the two quarters resulting in a net decrease of 166 000 in the not economically active population.

For media enquiries contact:

Mr. Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

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Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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