Unemployment hits record high in South Africa

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AA) - South Africa saw record levels of unemployment with 6.7 million jobless, the country's worst since the global financial crisis over a decade ago, said a government report released .

According to the report published by statistics South Africa the unemployment rate increased by 1.4 percentage points from 27.6% in the first quarter of 2019 to 29% in the second quarter of 2019.

"The number of unemployed persons increased by 455,000 to 6.7 million people in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2019, resulting in an increase of 476 000 in the labour force," the report posted on July 31 said.

The findings revealed that the level of unemployment was high in South Africa and that there were few few jobs open to competition.

"About 71.5% of those in unemployment have been looking for work for a period of a year or longer," the labor survey noted.

The report comes as the country faces slow economic growth and fears of layoffs in some companies, increasing pressure on the new administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa as it struggles to create jobs.

The survey found that out of 6.7 million unemployed, 57% studied but had not completed secondary schooling, while only 2.2% were graduates with university qualifications and 6.9% had other tertiary qualifications.

South Africa last witnessed its worst unemployment rate in 2003 which stood at over 28%.