South Africa's official unemployment rate fell slightly in the fourth quarter of last year, helped by job gains in the finance and manufacturing sectors.

The jobless rate declined to 31.9% in the three months through December, compared with 32.1% in the previous quarter, according to data released by Statistics South Africa in the capital, Pretoria, on Tuesday. That is the lowest rate since the third quarter of 2023.

South Africa’s official unemployment rate has dropped by 0.2 percentage points to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 32.1% in the previous quarter. This is according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, 18 February.

South Africa's official unemployment rate fell to 31.9% in the final quarter of 2024 from 32.1% in the third quarter, data from the statistics agency showed on Tuesday. Statistics South Africa said the number of unemployed people fell to 7.

Rejecting precarious work signals dissatisfaction with a labour market where wage employment rarely offers security or social mobility.

When factoring in discouraged work seekers, South Africa’s North-West province has the worst unemployment rate with more people unemployed than working. South Africa continues to grapple with a severe unemployment crisis, with Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) highlighting the deep-rooted nature of the problem.

JUST IN: The country's official unemployment rate has dropped by a marginal 0,2 of a percent - coming down to 31,9% in the 4th quarter (2024). Despite this drop - 8 million eligible people are still jobless. Youth and black women remain among the hardest hit. @khanya_mntambo pic.twitter.com/okTWTDg5h6

South Africa’s official unemployment rate has dropped by 0.2 percentage points to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024. The post South Africa’s unemployment rate drops, but 8 million remain jobless appeared first on SA People.