South Africa currently has some of its highest unemployment figures since 2008, but recent statistics released by StatsSA has revealed that the Western Cape has the lowest unemployment figures in the country.
The Cape has the lowest official unemployment rate, at 20.9% compared to the national official unemployment rate of 29.1%. As well as the lowest expanded unemployment rate in the country at 24.1% compared to the national rate at 38.7%.
The next lowest expanded unemployment rate is in Gauteng at 35.3%.
“While we are proud of this achievement, we are deeply distressed by the national unemployment rate that has remained unchanged and showed no improvement whatsoever,” the Democratic Alliance (DA) said in a statement. “Where we govern, we identify growing sectors that require skilled workers and provide training to people so that they can enter these sectors and earn a living. Government doesn’t provide jobs, but it is the job of government to create a space for people to find work while facilitating the development of people so that they can take care of themselves and their families.”
Young people in the province are said to have more access to skills development and training compared to other provinces.
“South Africa needs a drastic intervention in order to build a country where people have access to opportunities to create a life they value,” the DA added.
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