Central SA
25,000 more Free State people unemployed─── ZENANDE MPAME 05:00 Thu, 20 Feb 2025
The latest quarterly labour force reveals that 25,000 more people in the Free State have joined the unemployment line.
The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2024 was released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday (18/2), showing a decrease in the unemployment rate and a favourable trend in the South African labour force.
The survey showed the number of employed people increased by 132,000 to 17.1 million, while the number of jobless people decreased by 20,000 to 8 million.
“The Free State needs urgent action to create meaningful employment opportunities and empower the people of the Free State,” said Free State DA MPL David van Vuuren in reaction to the survey.
“These numbers paint a dark picture of the situation in the province and are but a numerical representation of the reality that many people face.
“A majority of residents still live under the poverty line and are dependent on social grants. The province is already in the grip of a cost of living crisis and the sharp increase in unemployment only deepens an already bleak situation.”
The largest decreases were recorded in the Northern Cape (3.0 percentage points), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (2.6 pp.) and Mpumalanga (1.5 pp.). The unemployment rate increased in the North West (4.5 pp.), Free State (1.9 pp.), and Gauteng (0.4 pp.), while the Western Cape remained unchanged.
“The survey revealed a positive trend in the South African labour force, with a decline in the unemployment rate,” said Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli. “Government is committed to tackling unemployment through strategic investments, policy reforms, and enhanced private sector participation.”
“The reduction in the unemployment rate reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of our government and key stakeholders.”
In 2023, 50,000 job opportunities were created across the three spheres of government in the Free State, and of this number, the Community Works Programme contributed 26,871 job opportunities.
In 2023 the unemployment rate declined from 38.1% in the third quarter of 2021 to 33.8% a year later. In the third quarter of 2024, unemployment declined from 32.1% in the third quarter to 31.9% in the fourth quarter.
