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The first-quarter unemployment rate rose by 0.8 of a percentage point to 32.9% from 32.1% in the fourth quarter, Statistics SA data shows, marking a second consecutive increase in the number of people without jobs.
The number of unemployed persons increased by 330 000 to 8.2 million while the number of employed persons increased 22 000 to 16.7 million in the first quarter of the year.
Five years ago, as the country headed to the polls, Stats SA's numbers showed there were 6.7 million unemployed people and an unemployment rate of 29%. The ANC, which made job creation its number one priority in 2019, will go to the polls in just over two weeks with unemployment having risen 22% to 8.2 million over that time.
The ANC, according to several polls, is expected to lose its majority position for the first time.
Formal-sector employment increased by 56 000 in the first quarter, while informal-sector employment decreased by 100 000 over the same period, according to Statistics SA.
Employment losses were recorded in community and social services, construction, finance and utilities. Sectors that showed growth in jobs included trade, manufacturing, private households, transport, agriculture and mining.
The unemployment rate, according to the expanded definition, also increased by 0.8 of a percentage point to 41.9% in the first quarter.
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"The youth (15 to 34 years) remain vulnerable in the labour market; the first quarter of 2024 results show that the total number of unemployed youth increased by 236 000 to 4.9 million while there was a decrease of 7 000 in the number of employed youth to 5.9 million. This resulted in an increase in the youth unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points from 44.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 45.5% in the first quarter of 2024," Statistics SA said.
