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Statistics South Africa reported a slight drop in the unemployment rate which was down to 32.6% in the Second Quarter of 2023, compared to 32.9% in Q1.
“The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) indicate that the number of employed persons increased by 154 000 to 16.3 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023,” said Statistician General, Risenga Maluleke.
According to the latest report, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 11 000 to 7.9 million during the same quarter.
Stats SA said the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than “discouragement” increased by 93 000 to 13.3 million.
Meanwhile, the number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by 94 000 in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter, resulting in a net decrease of 1 000 in the not economically active population.
Maluleke said the changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 0.3 of a percentage point Quarter to Quarter.
“The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition decreased by 0.3 of a percentage point to 42.1% in Q2:2023 compared to Q1:2023.”
