While the official unemployment rate in South Africa stands at 34.4%, the Western Cape retains its position in holding the lowest official unemployment rate in the country at 25.8%. This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2021. The province also has the lowest expanded unemployment rate in the country at 29.1%, well ahead of other provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng which recorded an expanded unemployment rate of 47.1% and 42.7%, respectively.
The survey further revealed that the Western Cape has the highest labour absorption rate in the country at 63.1%. This means that as a percentage, more people in the Western Cape are employed than anywhere else in the country.
MPP Ricardo Mackenzie said: “Quarter on quarter, the Western Cape has recorded the lowest number of discouraged work seekers, now standing at 62 000 residents. In the last quarter, this figure stood at 97,000 residents – this tells us that efforts by both government and the private sector to create an active economic environment are working, even in the midst of this pandemic. Our number of discouraged work seekers is 13 times less than KwaZulu-Natal, where 823 000 people are no longer looking for work.
The people of the Western Cape have hope of a dignified future. Provincial government is doing all that it can to support the lives and livelihoods of residents. It has fought for Covid-19 regulations that are based on scientific evidence while, at the same time, capacitating our healthcare sector and vaccine facilities so that no resident would have to choose between their work and their health.
We see this, for example, at Wesgro which secured a record-breaking R5 billion investment between April and June this year. This is estimated to create 4,000 new direct jobs and has a further 22 projects in the pipeline which span various sectors.
A job and access to economic opportunity is a lifeline and key for a stable, secure future for a family and our communities. It is crucial that all provincial governments are working to ensure that they are creating the economic environment needed to see livelihoods protected, especially in these difficult economic times.”
As the DA in the Western Cape, we will continue to bring hope where we govern for the people of this province.