Job creation efforts in the Western Cape province are paying off. The Western Cape unemployment rate has recently dropped to below 20% for the first time in a decade.
South Africa’s employment struggles
South Africa still continues to grapple with an ongoing unemployment crisis, with rates far exceeding global averages. The country’s unemployment rate has increased by more than 60% in the last 10 years.
The total employment dropped by 1,2% between June and September 2024, according to the latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES). During this period, there was a drop of over 133 000 jobs.
Women struggling more than men
As previously reported by The South African, women continue to face much higher levels of unemployment and underemployment than men, along with lower participation in the workforce.
This unequal situation is largely due to the fact that women often have to manage household chores, take care of children, and handle other responsibilities, restricting their chances of finding work. According to Statistics South Africa, the trends in labour force participation and absorption rates for South African men and women from 2014 to 2024 indicate that fewer women have been participating in the labour market compared to men.
Although data shows a narrowing of the gender gap in labour force participation, there is still a notable difference between genders.
Western Cape is where the jobs are
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde stated in a video on social media that the latest employment numbers in the province show that people are more likely to find a job in the Western Cape than anywhere else in South Africa. The Western Cape is leading the way in driving economic growth and creating more jobs. He added that although the Western Cape government still has a lot of work to do, it is on the right track and has achieved a lot. The most significant recent achievements include an increase in the economy, fighting crime, and efforts to enhance energy resilience showing results.
What role does geography play?
It is evident that employment varies from one region to another.
A recent study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) revealed that unemployment and labour absorption vary across different regions.
Labour absorption rate, i.e. employment, refers to the population ratio versus the proportion of employed working-age people. Essentially, labour absorption reflects the ability of an economy to create employment.
The study showed that some regions have significantly higher absorption rates than others. The Western Cape unemployment rate is much lower than in the Eastern Cape, for example.
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