Johannesburg- The youth unemployment rate in South Africa, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, hit a new record high of 66.5%, as the country’s jobless rate crisis deepens.
The broader unemployment rate also soared to a record 34.9% in the third quarter of the year, up from 34.4% in the prior quarter, data from Statistics South Africa shows.
The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for work, was at 46.6% in the quarter under review, up from 44.4% in the second quarter.
Second quarter’s dismal unemployment data was the highest jobless rate since comparable data began in 2008.
“Compared to a year ago, total employment decreased by 409 000 persons.
The number of unemployed persons increased by 17,0% (1,1 million), while the number of persons who were not economically active decreased by 0,7% (124 000),” Stats SA said.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
