GNU ‘clueless’ on how to tackle unemployment

GRIM STATS

- NICOLA MAWSON AND SIYAVUYA MZANTSI

THE increase in the official unemployment rate from 31.9% to 32.9% exposes the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) “investment conferences” as gimmicks that only serve to create a false sense of hope.

This was the reaction from some labour unions following the latest labour force survey statistics.

The official unemployment rate moved upwards because 291 000 people lost their jobs quarter-on-quarter, dropping the employed workforce to 16.8 million as of March this year.

Statistics South Africa released its latest unemployment figures this week.

StatsSA noted that those aged between 15 and 34 years remained the most vulnerable in the job market, with both work losses and an increase in unemployed youngsters pushing that unemployment rate up to 46.1% from 44.6% quarter-on-quarter.

PERFORMANCE

“The youth (15-34 years) remain vulnerable in the labour market. The results for the first quarter of 2025 show that the total number of unemployed youth 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,’ said StatsSA.