Mkhondo – Good news for the economy of Mpumalanga is that the Province has recorded an increase of 13, 402 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, resulting in the unemployment rate decreasing by almost three-percent – that is, from 37.4 percent in quarter 2 of 2024 to 34.7 percent in quarter 4 of 2024. This was announced by Statistics South Africa in their Quarter 4 of 2024 Quarterly Labour Force Survey results released on Tuesday, 18 February 2025.
“This is, indeed, great news for our Province as we continue to work closely with the private sector to create the much-needed jobs for our people. We are excited that the unemployment rate in the Province has decreased in the last quarter of 2024, as reported by Statistics South Africa. We recommit to continue strengthening our partnership with social partners, especially business, to even create more jobs in future”, explained the excited MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Ms. Makhosazane Masilela.
The economic sectors that contributed to the increase were especially agriculture, transport and communication, as well as finance. The construction industry, however, struggled in the same period after a good performance in the previous quarter. The latest increase in job creation has, thus resulted in the provincial employment level doubling over the past 30 years, to a level of 1.25 million people in quarter 4 of 2024.
Accordingly, the unemployment rates of females and the youth have also dropped in the last quarter of 2024. It is very positive that the Bachelor degree graduate’s unemployment rate has also decreased significantly in the Province, from almost 20 percent a couple of months ago, to below 10 percent in quarter 4 of 2024.
“We want to significantly bring down the unemployment rate, especially that of women and our young people. It is, thus, crucial that as government, we continue to address the skills shortages in the labour market so as to improve the employability of our young people”, concluded MEC Masilela.
ENDS...
Issued by the Communication Directorate, Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Media Enquiries: Dr Mohau Ramodibe, Head of Communication on 060 989 4678 or Ms. Nomthandazo Mpangane, MLO of the MEC on 073 510 0525