Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Labour shortage persists amid high unemployment

Farmer's Weekly

|

June 24, 2022

South Africa’s current official unemployment rate is 34,5%, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa.

Labour shortage persists amid high unemployment

 Despite this, farmers are experiencing increasing difficulty in finding workers. This was according to Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA, who was speaking at the recent Mpumalanga Agriculture annual congress held in White River.

Minaar said a lack of labour was one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, because there were many jobs that South Africans didn’t want to do. “This forces farmers to look to foreign labour, but government is working against this.”

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

The foot-and-mouth disease threat is growing

Foot-and-mouth disease poses a growing threat to the livestock industry, especially communal farmers, with devastating economic consequences unless awareness and compliance improve, writes Shane Brody.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Shipping conditions to ease in 2026, but risk remains high

Early signs suggest a more favourable export season for South African producers, as easing global shipping congestion and improved performance by Transnet point to higher throughput at local ports. Lindi Botha reports.

time to read

2 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

A path of accelerating land reform in South Africa

Delivering the ANC's January 8th Statement a few weeks ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted, amongst other things, that: “Land reform remains one of the most urgent tasks of the National Democratic Revolution. While progress has been made, much more is required to give effect to the constitutional requirement for redress and equitable access to land.”

time to read

2 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Reflections on 2025 and the policy space for 2026

The year 2025 was a year characterised initially by a wave of misinformation, particularly relating to legislation and tariff issues. This year some big moves are expected in the trade space.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

From planning to peak lay: building a profitable egg business

Mpumalanga poultry farmer Lebogang Mashego spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel, and shared practical insights on planning, building systems that work, breed choice, feed management, and markets to build a profitable and sustainable egg business.

time to read

5 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Impofu Wind Farm becomes a canvas for community connection through Enel's Blowing Art Initiative

Enel Green Power South Africa has introduced the Blowing Art Initiative at the Impofu Wind Farm in the Eastern Cape, a creative community project that turns renewable energy infrastructure into a living gallery.

time to read

2 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Geely is intent on hanging around

Having fallen off the radar around a decade ago following a short local stint, Chinese manufacturer Geely has announced its proposed return to South Africa towards the end of 2026. The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe reports.

time to read

4 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Great reads to enjoy during ‘me-time'

Patricia McCracken has plucked an assortment of fascinating titles covering different areas of interest, from coastal exploration and dining in the wild, to African traditions surrounding love and marriage.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Thokoman Peanut Butter marks 25-year milestone with R500 000 commitment to food security

Thokoman Peanut Butter, one of South Africa's biggest producers of peanut butter, celebrates 25 years of consistent quality and community support, marking the occasion with a significant R500 000 partnership with Hot 102.7's Hot Cares initiative for 2026.

time to read

2 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

South Africa's famous wandering hippo

From 1928 to 1931, a hippopotamus trekked 1 600km from what was then northern Natal to the Eastern Cape's Keiskamma River near Peddie, where it was shot dead by a posse of farmers. As Mike Burgess writes, this journey would immortalise the hippo in South African history.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size