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South Africa's official unemployment rate was slightly down at 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 32.1% in the third quarter.
Stats SA says according to its Quarterly Labour Force Survey, there was an increase of 132,000 in the number of employed persons to 17,1 million in the fourth quarter of last year.
It says there was a decrease of 20,000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8 million.
Stats SA's Dihlolelo Phoshoko says this resulted in a 0.4% increase of 112 000 in the labour force during the same period.
Discouraged work-seekers increased by 111 000 (up by 3,3%), and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 93 000 (down by 0,7%) between the third and fourth quarters of 2024.
This led to an increase of 18,000 in the number of the not economically active population to 16,5 million.
