
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
28/06/2025
Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month
2025, the N...
24/06/2025
Panels of the National Film and Video Foundation in Accordance with the NFVF Act...
13/06/2025
Johannesburg, 12 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an a...
11/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
10/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
06/06/2025
S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...
05/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 4 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundatio...
29/05/2025
Rest in Power, a True Legend of Our Screens
Johannesburg, South Africa 27 May...
29/05/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Vincent Blennies, has resigned from...
22/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
13/05/2025
The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that was create...
10/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
08/04/2025
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Blennies as Chief Exec...
04/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to submit character designs inspired by lead characters from any South Afric...
14/03/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
01/03/2025
Antis pticos Orales: Revisi n De La Literatura Y Perspectiva Actual Influenza son contradictorios, dadas las elevadas tasas de curaci n espont nea. De ser neces...
28/02/2025
The Future of Green Energy: Challenges and Prospects Green energy, also known as renewable energy, has emerged as a critical solution to global energy challenge...
27/02/2025
Beginner Coding in Python: Building the Simplest AI Chat Companion Possible
AI-powered Personal VoiceBot for Language Learning by Gamze Zorlubas
You can ear...
24/12/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for applications from South African film and television filmmakers to be part of the NFVF's delegat...
06/12/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the cl...
30/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Ar...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites emerging female producers ...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites current masters students t...
30/10/2024
Johannesburg, 26 October 2024 - The 18th Annual South African Film and Televisio...
30/10/2024
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DOCUMENTARY
!Aitsa
Practitioner: Simon Kohler
Production House: MED CINE
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING DOCUMENTARY
Rise: The Si...
24/10/2024
In accordance with Section 6 (2) (c) of the National Film and Video Foundation A...
19/10/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites postgraduate students to s...
15/10/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...
11/10/2024
10 October 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa - The National Film and Video Found...
09/10/2024
Sportel stand number: Ravel Hall G06/07 After a summer filled with intense sport emotions in Paris, France and beyond, Globecast will be happy to welcome you...
04/10/2024
SAFTAs 18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics . Johannesburg, South Africa Wedn...
04/10/2024
Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday, 2 October 2024 The South African Film ...
01/10/2024
Johannesburg, South Africa - Monday, 30 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (...
24/09/2024
Every little girl out there who has felt different because they are not what soc...
09/09/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...
06/09/2024
Johannesburg, 05 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF),...
09/08/2024
Johannesburg, 8 August 2024 - It is with profound sadness that the National Film...
01/08/2024
Globecast to Showcase the Broadcast Industry's Most Advanced Connectivity and Hybrid Cloud Solutions at IBC 2024
PARIS, 1 August 2024 Globecast, the lead...
16/07/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
13/07/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/07/2024
The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that is created...
02/07/2024
Arabsat, ASBU and Globecast are commemorating 20 years with a renewed multi-year deal for Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) services, providing a wide range of DTH di...
11/06/2024
Tuesday 11 June 2024, Johannesburg. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF...
31/05/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the custodians of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), has learned of the allegations of ill-tr...
22/05/2024
Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estateA judge in Tennessee has temporarily halted a foreclosure sale of Graceland, the historic home of El...