Government remains committed to accelerating its interventions aimed at unlocking investment opportunities, growing the economy and addressing unemployment.
As a country we have placed economic growth and job creation at the centre of our national agenda. Local and foreign investments play an important role in growing our economy and creating sustainable jobs.
Investments significantly contribute to our national goals of socio-economic development in breaking the back of poverty, unemployment and inequality, GCIS Acting Director-General Phumla Williams said on Tuesday.
Government reacts to Stats SA labour surveyWilliams's remarks come after the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2019 by Statistics South Africa.
Unemployment rises to 27.6%The report revealed that South Africa's unemployment rate increased by 0.5 of a percentage point to 27.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Related: South Africa's unemployment rate rises to 26.7%
The increase in the unemployment rate is a result of a decline of 237 000 in the number of people in employment and an increase of 62 000 in the number of people who were unemployed between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.
The South African working-age population increased by 149 000 in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Worker-seeker sentiment at all-time lowThe labour force decreased by 176 000. The results further indicate that the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by (156 000) and the other not economically active population by 169 000 resulting in the net increase of 325 000 in the number of those who were not economically active.
A decline in employment was observed in all sectors (Formal sector, Informal sector, Agriculture and Private households) in the first quarter of 2019, compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
The net loss of 237 000 in the number of people in employment was mainly driven by:
Construction (142 000); followed by
Finance (94 000);
Community and social services (50 000);
Private households (31 000);
Mining (20 000);
Agriculture (12 000)
Employment gains were recorded in:
Transport (59 000);
Trade (25 000);
Utilities (16 000); and
Manufacturing (14 000)
Related: South Africa's youth feeling hopeless as unemployment takes heavy toll
There were approximately 10.3 million persons aged 15-24 years in the first quarter of 2019. Between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, the percentage of young persons aged 15-24 years who were not in employment, education or training (NEET) increased by 2.1 percentage points to 33.2% (3,4 million).
Of the 20.3 million young people aged 15-34 years, 40.7% were not in employment, education or training (NEET) - an increase by 1.8 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Government's plan-of-action in addressing unemploymentWilliams said the high rate of unemployment is a serious concern to government.
As such, decisive steps are also being taken, including rebuilding investor confidence, ending corruption and State capture, restoring good governance and strengthening critical public institutions.
However, Williams cautioned that the challenge requires all sectors of society to work together.
All South Africans must join hands and make an extraordinary effort to overcome the economic challenges we face. The South African economy must grow at a higher rate in order to create enough jobs and lift people out of poverty, Williams said.
Key among government interventions was the Youth Employment Service, Jobs Summit, Economic Stimulus recovery plan and Investment Conference, which are short and long-term measures put in place to reignite the economy.
Related: Expected unemployment rate decrease boosted by festive activity in South Africa
The Jobs Summit, which was held in October 2018, brought together government, business, labour and community organisations to seek solutions to South Africa's unemployment challenge. It also provided a platform for open discussion on the challenges faced by each social partner in the creation of jobs.
The National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) social partners agree that the Presidential Jobs Summit emerged with a framework agreement that is both ambitious and realisable.
Through the Jobs Summit, government, labour, business and the community sector agreed on concrete interventions to boost employment. It's estimated that these interventions will create an additional 275 000 direct jobs a year.
The inaugural South Africa Investment Conference was also another boost which generated announcements of investments to the tune of R290 billion.
Williams said this marked the beginning of a new narrative on investment in South Africa.
Related: President Ramaphosa: The ANC has learnt its lesson'
The South Africa Investment Conference was an expression of a shared hope and a renewed confidence. It made a bold and unequivocal statement that we are determined to put behind us the period of uncertainty and discord and embrace a future of cooperation and partnership.
With the successful 2019 National and Provincial Elections, Williams said the new administration brings forth a new wave of renewal and positivity.
It reaffirms the stability that investors have been accustomed to since the start of our democracy. In refreshing our democratic mandate, South Africans have committed the country to build on its sound financial and economic policies, she said.
Tags: asyqzszhGovernmentSouth Africaunemployment in SA
Africa Stories
23/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Bra Zakes asks Isaac to hold off going to the cops un...
23/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 22 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
23/04/2024
Skeem Saam' May Spoiler: Inside Mr Kgomo, Eunice's romance? Skeem Saam' May teasers reveal that Melita will be jealous of Mr Kgomo and Eunice's ...
23/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Dintle takes a huge risk on her quest to save her daughterDon't miss Tuesday, 23 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Sc...
22/04/2024
[Watch] Artists covering their favourite classicsArtists often watch other performers to get some of their inspiration. Check out some of these classic famous s...
22/04/2024
WATCH: Queen of hip-hop Lil2Hood thanks ParisProducer and DJ Lil2Hood (Flash.Wrldwide) has proved that she's a queen of modern hip-hop. Lil2Hood thanked Par...
22/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Funani informs Isaac about Nkosi seeing his hijacker ...
22/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: The carpet is pulled out from under NhlamuloDon't miss Monday, 22 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on e.tv ...
22/04/2024
LGBTQ writers asked to submit their storiesWriters have been asked to submit their short stories (up to 20, 000 words) for an upcoming anthology called Just LG...
22/04/2024
[Watch] Queen of hip-hop Lil2Hood thanks ParisProducer and DJ Lil2Hood (Flash.Wrldwide) has proved that she's a queen of modern hip-hop. Lil2Hood thanked Pa...
22/04/2024
Isaac Mutant: HemelBesem gave me R2, 500'Cape town rapper Isaac Mutant claims he was paid less than everyone else's fee for the use of his music in Sho...
22/04/2024
Afrikaans (free) television shows you can STILL watchAfrikaans television shows are making a comeback through AfriForumTV. However, not everyone wants to see sh...
22/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Virginia learns Sonto and Sakhile slept togetherDon't miss Monday, 22 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Smo...
22/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Kgosi reveals the details of what he witnessed Lehasa doi...
21/04/2024
Gqeberha: The Empire' loses more viewers on DStvTshedza Pictures' isiXhosa telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire' lost more viewers in March and was plac...
21/04/2024
Youngins' fans praise actor Thabiso Ramotshela as MahlatseSouth Africans praise former The River' actor Thabiso Ramotshela, who plays Mahlatse in Showm...
20/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 19 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
19/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa panics when she learns of possible evide...
19/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Khwezi stares death in the faceDon't miss Friday, 19 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Saam on SABC 1 on DSt...
19/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Faith refuses to talk to Zola and to discuss the matt...
19/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Thursday's episode, 18 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African s...
19/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Tragic story of Jerry's life and crimesDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the re...
19/04/2024
House of Zwide' Spoiler: Soka dates Mampho and OnaThe House of Zwide' May teasers reveal that Soka will date both Ona and Mampho and get caught. Will h...
19/04/2024
Beer: Seven celebrities talk about their loveBeer is one of the world's most popular beverages. We asked several celebrities about their favourite brews or ...
19/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Tlhogi cannot believe what she hears from TapsDon't miss Friday, 19 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on e.t...
18/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Caesar almost finds Thandiswa with the bloody wedd...
18/04/2024
Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop on FRIDAYTaylor Swift will release her highly anticipated record The Tortured Poets Departme...
18/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa puts his plan to eliminate Khwezi in motionDon't miss Thursday, 18 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem ...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: April's experiences of black boudoirThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story
by Tha...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Can gangsterism and violence be reduced in prison?Dean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor C...
18/04/2024
Software making music: How DJs are doing itSoftware plays a big part in music production, recording, and performances. Here's what DJs are using, and how yo...
18/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele later blindsides an unwitting Faith into meeti...
18/04/2024
Debut author stuns with international bestselling thriller Anna O'Matthew Blake burst onto the book scene with his bestseller Anna O', a deliciously d...
18/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 17 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...
18/04/2024
Watch: Trailers for the best Afrikaans movies ever madeDon't know what to watch? Here are some of the best Afrikaans movie trailers ever made, including Too...
17/04/2024
Isitha: The Enemy' is the second-watched TV show on e.tvE.tv's popular telenovela, Isitha: The Enemy' secured second place on the channel with over...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Dintle reels in the line but it seems she's the only one...
17/04/2024
Trailer debate: What's the BEST South African movie?The trailer debate is on! We'd like to spark the debate What's your favourite South African mov...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle and Pax are punished for their misdeedsDon't miss Wednesday, 17 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Sa...
17/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac tells Funani he has no leads on Nkosi's hij...
17/04/2024
Ster-Kinekor to cut 236 jobs, close THESE nine cinemas in South AfricaSter-Kinekor has announced plans to lay off almost a third of its 728 employees and close ...
17/04/2024
Disney and National Geographic celebrate Earth MonthDisney's storytelling prowess merged with National Geographic's legacy of exploration to celebrate E...
17/04/2024
Prison Journalism: How have you changed as a person while in prison?Jeffrey Shockley is a writer serving a life sentence in the State Correctional Institution-F...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa is determined to solve Dikeledi's su...
17/04/2024
Smoke and Mirrors: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afri...
17/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African so...
17/04/2024
Scandal!: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websi...
17/04/2024
Sibongile and The Dlaminis' gains first position on DStvRhythm World's popular telenovela Sibongile and The Dlaminis' is the most-watched TV show o...
17/04/2024
House of Zwide: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African ...
Government remains committed to accelerating its interventions aimed at unlocking investment opportunities, growing the economy and addressing unemployment.
