State ‘isn’t doing enough’ as unemployment hits highest rate since 2008

Unemployment increased by 2.2 percentage points to 26.7% in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. This is the highest rate since 2008. 

Pali Lehohla, statistician-general of Statistics SA, said the unemployment rate was a far way off from the 2030 target of 6% set out in the National Development Plan. 

Employment levels declined in all industries, except community and social services and agriculture, which grew by 51 000 and 16 000, respectively. 

The biggest job losses were observed in trade (about 119 000), manufacturing (100 000) and construction (77 000). 

Responding to a question whether the government was doing enough to address unemployment, Lehohla said: “No. It hasn’t, otherwise you would have seen the democratic dividend. 

“The government will have done enough when you see a change in the unemployment trend. There is no indication of a turning point and the current economic climate is not helping.” – Fin24