Latest news with #QLFS
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
ActionSA writes to President Ramaphosa demanding dismissal of employment minister
ActionSA has written to President Ramaphosa, requesting that he dismiss the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, for her clear failure to arrest the deepening unemployment crisis that continues to erode hope, dignity and opportunity for millions of South Africans. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Q1:2025, paints a dire picture: The official unemployment rate rose to 32.9%, up from 31.9% the previous quarter. A staggering 8.2 million South Africans are now unemployed, with an additional 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers. 291 000 jobs were lost in the first quarter alone – the first such Q1 contraction since 2021. This equates to more than 24,000 jobs lost each week, and almost 5 000 each workday. The proportion of young South Africans aged 15–34 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rose to 45.1% in Q1:2025 — a devastating indicator that nearly half of our youth have been left without opportunity, support or a path to a better future. There is a glaring absence of any meaningful strategy, either in planning or implementation and despite full awareness of South Africa's worsening unemployment crisis, Minister Meth has failed to present a coherent plan to stem job losses, support the informal economy or tackle the systemic barriers that keep young people out of the workforce. In November 2024, ActionSA asked Minister Meth whether she would resign should the country's distressing unemployment figures continue to rise. Her response was blunt and unapologetic: 'Unfortunately, I won't resign.' This laid bare a disturbing indifference to the suffering of millions of South Africans. It is an attitude that reflects the posture of an uncaring government that has grown comfortable with failure while ordinary citizens pay the price. Nearly a year into her tenure, Minister Meth has not demonstrated the urgency, capacity or leadership required to respond to this economic and social emergency. South Africa's working-age population cannot afford further stagnation under ineffective stewardship. The absence of meaningful performance management for GNU Ministers has created a culture where failure carries zero consequence. In any functional democracy, such dismal figures amid worsening socio-economic conditions would compel a Minister to take responsibility and step down. Sadly, this standard of accountability is sorely lacking in South Africa and glaringly absent in the Ramaphosa-led administrations. ActionSA believes that something has to give. Sitting on our hands while millions suffer is simply not an option. We are committed to using every available lever to ensure that South Africa's unemployment crisis is addressed with the urgency it demands. Alan Beesley MP, ActionSA Member of Parliament
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
43 000 Mpumalanga residents lose jobs in first quarter of 2025
The country celebrated Workers' Day on May 1, but about 43 000 Mpumalanga residents lost their jobs in the first three months of this year. These unfortunate people are unlikely to have joined the celebrations. Stats SA released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2025 on Tuesday, May 13. The results for the first quarter of 2025 show that the total number of unemployed youth (15 to 34 years) increased by 151 000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth recorded a decrease of 153 000 to 5.7 million. As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025. ALSO READ: Public warned against illegal sand mining Currently, youth unemployment in Mpumalanga is at 46.4%, one of the highest in the country. Unemployed jobseekers stand on the sides of the roads in Mbombela every day, seeking temporary job opportunities. During an interview with a jobseeker in the CBD, Carol Ndlovu (not her real name) said due to the high number of unemployed people in the area it has become difficult to find permeant employment. Ndlovu said many people prefer to clean their own homes and the increase in unemployed people has made it more difficult to find work opportunities. 'The hardest days are when I have to borrow money for the bus fee, yet I go home without any money. Some days we go home without anyone offering us work and this means I do not get to raise money for transport to go back home. I tried to apply for work, however, I struggled to find opportunities. I have a family, so I decided to wake up every morning, get onto a bus and leave my township so that I might put food on the table.' Siyabonga Maziya, another unemployed resident, said they face various challenges in their quest to make ends meet. 'We sometimes stand on the side of the road and we are unable to take money home because we could not find any opportunities. We have tried to apply for jobs but we are not getting anything.' ALSO READ: High court orders that assets be seized after alleged R5m Covid-19 PPE fraud uncovered In a statement, Grovè-Morgan said the DA is concerned that over 40 000 residents of the province have lost their jobs in the first quarter of this year. The QLFS report also revealed that the majority of the job losses were in the agriculture, mining and construction sectors. 'These job losses paint a very bleak picture of Mpumalanga's job market, where the unemployment rate increased to 35.4 % from 34.7% at the same time last year. Furthermore, the number of discouraged work seekers (expanded unemployment rate) in Mpumalanga increased to over 2.5 million (49.3%) out of a population of 5.1 million. 'The province's lost generation, the youth, contributes significantly to the expanded unemployment rate. This is a crisis that needs to be tackled by both the provincial government and the private sector.' The newspaper contacted the Office of the Premier for a comment and was referred to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. By the time of going to press the department had not responded to the enquiry. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties call for action as South Africa's unemployment crisis escalates
With South Africa's unemployment rate soaring to 32.9%, political parties are calling for urgent government action. Image: Freepik South Africa's unemployment rate has reached a staggering 32.9%, with 8.2 million people officially unemployed and 3.5 million discouraged work-seekers. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) has sparked outrage among political parties, who are demanding action from the government to address the crisis. According to the report, the total number of employed persons is 16.8 million. The three industries that employ the most people are trade, employing 3.2 million, community and social services with 3.9 million, and finance employs 3 million people. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ However, this quarter has seen a net job loss of 291 000. Major declines were recorded in trade, which went down by 194 000 while construction declined by 119 000 jobs. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) said it was not surprised by the rising unemployment rate. 'This is yet another indicator of the rapid economic and social collapse under the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU),' MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said. 'This is a Frankenstein coalition stitched together to serve elite interests, not the people of South Africa…Once again, black youth, black women, and persons living with disabilities, the very backbone of our society bears the heaviest burden of this crisis. 'These are the very groups who are deliberately sidelined from the mainstream economy, locked out by a racially-defined skills economy that still reflects the apartheid architecture of privilege,' Ndhlela said. The EFF called for practical solutions to stimulate economic activity and ensure mass job creation. The party's Sinawo Thambo also hit out at the GNU saying they have failed to put in place any practical and believable plan to create jobs and address the crisis of unemployment in South Africa. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has highlighted the racial disparities in unemployment, with black Africans bearing the heaviest burden. 'The catastrophic mismanagement of South Africa's economy, underscored by an alarming rise in unemployment that has reached an unprecedented 32.9%, reflects the utter failure of the ANC-DA coalition government to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of South Africa,' the party said. The ATM has suggested empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through accessible funding and resources, leveraging mineral resources to stimulate job creation, and implementing policies that prioritise employment for South Africans. Even parties within the GNU weighed in on the matter. The GOOD Party secretary general, Brett Herron, said South Africa was not just facing an unemployment crisis but a crisis of dignity. 'The latest QLFS confirms what South Africans already feel in their homes and communities - unemployment is getting worse, not better… Every lost job means another family pushed into poverty. Every discouraged worker is a symbol of a broken economic system,' Herron said. The DA has also emphasised the need for economic growth and job creation. 'Economic growth and job creation are the paramount priority of the government, and the DA's reform proposals and bold agenda should be front and centre to reverse this situation,' said Michael Bagraim, DA spokesperson on Employment and Labour. Cape Argus
The South African
14-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
South Africa's jobless total hits 8.2 million
South Africa's unemployment rate has risen sharply to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, up from 31.9% at the end of 2024 – marking a full 1 percentage point increase, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The increase means that 291 000 more South Africans are now unemployed, bringing the total number of jobless individuals to 8.2 million. The report places a spotlight on the youth unemployment crisis, with provinces like North West and the Eastern Cape particularly hard hit. North West: Youth unemployment stands at a staggering 58.8% , with only 43% of young people (aged 15 to 34) active in the labour market Youth unemployment stands at a staggering , with only of young people (aged 15 to 34) active in the labour market Eastern Cape: Youth unemployment is 54.3%, and labour force participation among youth is the lowest in the country at 39.8% These statistics underline the growing challenges young South Africans face in accessing job opportunities – from lack of skills to limited local economic activity. The QLFS also found that while 206 000 fewer students were classified as economically inactive in early 2025, the number of discouraged work seekers – people who have stopped looking for work altogether – increased by 7 000. The rising unemployment rate, combined with the increase in discouraged work seekers, reflects a worsening job market and growing disillusionment, particularly among young and rural populations. The sharp rise in unemployment comes amid intensified calls for government intervention to stimulate job creation and economic inclusion, particularly for the youth. Economists warn that without targeted policies to address skills development, entrepreneurship, and public sector hiring, structural unemployment will remain entrenched – threatening South Africa's long-term economic stability. As the government prepares its 2025 Budget Review, labour analysts and civil society groups are urging stronger investments in youth employment programmes, infrastructure development, and education-to-work transitions. 'The data shows a labour market under severe strain,' said one labour economist. 'Without a major policy shift, South Africa risks locking another generation out of the economy.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How education levels shape job prospects for South African youth
As youth unemployment in South Africa surges to 46.1%, the Federation of Unions of South Africa warns of a deepening jobs crisis that demands a coordinated national employment strategy. young South Africans continue to bear the brunt of unemployment, As young South Africans continue to bear the brunt of unemployment, data shows that education plays a crucial role in determining future job prospects in the country. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Statistics South Africa, the country's official unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, up from 31.9% in the previous quarter of 2024. The data also painted a grim picture for the country's youth, with the number of unemployed young people increasing by 151,000 to 4.8 million. While the number of employed youth declined by 153,000 to 5.7 million, pushing the youth unemployment rate up to 46.1%.
