Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke announced that the unemployment rate fell by a percentage point, from 33.9% in the second quarter to 32.9% in the third.

“These results indicate that 204 000 jobs were gained between the second quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2022. The total number of persons employed was 15.8 million in the third quarter of 2022,” said Maluleke.

“The number of unemployed persons decreased by 269 000 to 7.7 million and discouraged work-seekers also decreased by 54 000 to 3.5 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter.

The unemployment rate, according to the expanded definition with includes discouraged work seekers, continues to paint a grim picture.

The expanded unemployment rate stood at a whopping 43.1% of the country’s working age population.

South Africa’s youth remain the worst affected by the unemployment crisis.

The group recorded an expanded unemployment rates of 59.6%, while the office rate stood at 40.5%.

“Now generally young people experience higher unemployment rates than any other age cohort. Their absorption is low and labour force participation rate is relatively lower compared to any other age cohort,” Maluleke added.