South Africa Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Rate in South Africa increased to 25.20 percent in the first quarter of 2013 from 24.90 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. Unemployment Rate in South Africa is reported by the Statistics South Africa. Historically, from 2000 until 2013, South Africa Unemployment Rate averaged 25.49 Percent reaching an all time high of 31.20 Percent in March of 2003 and a record low of 21.90 Percent in December of 2008. In South Africa, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Unemployment Rate.

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South Africa Unemployment Rate

Labour | STATISTICSLastPreviousHighestLowestForecastUnitTrend
Unemployment Rate 25.20 Mar/2013 24.90 31.20 21.90 25.11 Jun/2013 Percent Trend
Employed Persons 8461000.00 Dec/2012 8440000.00 8512000.00 3694977.00 8466524.45 Mar/2013 Persons Trend
Labour Costs 333.80 Aug/2012 324.00 333.80 3.20 337.02 Dec/2012 Index Points Trend
Unemployed Persons 4526.00 Feb/2013 4501.00 4843.00 3873.00 4472.29 Jun/2013 Thousand Persons Trend
Wages 393833000.00 Nov/2012 371908000.00 393833000.00 14639220.00 380713310.98 Mar/2013 ZAR THO Trend
Wages in Manufacturing 50665000.00 Nov/2012 45073000.00 50665000.00 11800149.00 46890334.37 Mar/2013 ZAR THO Trend
Population 52.20 Dec/2012 50.59 52.20 17.40 50.64 Dec/2012 Million Trend


CALENDAR Country Event Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
06/May/2013 10:30 AM
South Africa Unemployment Rate Q1 2013 25.2% 24.90%
30/Jul/2013 10:30 AM
South Africa Unemployment Rate Q2 2013 25.2%
29/Oct/2013 09:30 AM
South Africa Unemployment Rate Q3 2013

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South Africa Unemployment Rate Up to 25.2% in Q1 2013
Statistics South Africa | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com  |  5/6/2013 10:45:22 AM


The labour force increased by 144 000 persons between Q4 of 2012 and Q1 of 2013. This increase is reflected in an increase in the number of both unemployed persons (100 000) and employed person (44 000), which saw the unemployment rate increase by 0,3 of a percentage point from 24.9% to 25.2% in Q1 of 2013.

Following from the first decrease in employment during the fourth quarter of a year observed in Q4 of 2012, employment increased during the first quarter of a year in Q1 of 2013. 

In the first three months of 2013, both the formal sector and the informal sector saw decreases in employment (25 000 and 13 000 persons respectively), while employment increased in agriculture and private households (54 000 and 29 000 persons respectively).
 
Between Q4 of 2012 and Q1 of 2013, the number of discouraged workseekers increased by 73 000; while other (not economically active) persons decreased by 106 000 resulting in a net decrease of 33 000 among the not economically active population.
 
Compared to a year ago, in Q1 of 2013 employment increased by 1.5% (199 000), unemployment increased by 1.7% (75 000), the number of discouraged work-seekers decreased slightly by 0.2% (5 000) and other (not economically active) increased by 1.5% (185 000), resulting in a 1.2% (179 000) increase in the not economically active population. 

 


ARCHIVE
South Africa Unemployment Rate Decreases to 24.9% in Q4 2012 The labour force decreased by 235 000 persons between the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2012. This decrease was reflected in a decrease in the number of both unemployed persons (166 000) and employed persons (68 000), which saw the unemployment rate decline by 0.6 of a percentage point from 25.5 percent to 24.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. 2013-02-05



Unemployment Rate | Notes

The unemployment rate can be defined as the number of people actively looking for a job divided by the labour force. Changes in unemployment depend mostly on inflows made up of non-employed people starting to look for jobs, of employed people who lose their jobs and look for new ones and of people who stop looking for employment.




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