This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2018 that was released by Statistics South Africa. It reveals South Africa's unemployment rate decreased by 0,4 of a percentage point to 27,1%. The working-age population increased by 149 000 or 0,4% in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter of 2018. The number of employed people increased by 149 000 to 16,5 million and the number o unemployed people decreased by 70 000 to 6,1 million. However, the number of employed people declined in the community and social services, transport,utilities, and construction industries while employment gains took place in finance and other business services, including agriculture, which shows an increase of 7 000 jobs.

The condition of the firefighter who was injured and rushed to hospital after a fire led to the collapse of a roof of a silo in Allanridge in the Free State, is stable. OFM News reported on Tuesday that the Matjhabeng Municipal Fire Brigade was called to the scene and initial reports were that the brigade tried to putout the fire from inside the silo, however, the firemen were battling the blaze from outside the burning structure. Assistant head of the fire brigade, Francois Klaassen, explained that the initial report on the situation was unconfirmed at that stage.

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An improvement in South Africa's primary agricultural employment in the fourth quarter of 2018 of 7000 jobs which leads to a total of 849 000 jobs is encouraging. Wandile Sihloba, an economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber, Agbiz, says it is reassuring, especially in a climate where South Africa is exploring strategies to unlock job creating in the sector. He adds that if underutilised land in the former homelands and other parts of the country are not brought into full production with a focus on labour-intensive sub-sectors notable job creation in South Africa's agriculture industry will not materialise.

OFM News