The total number of employed persons increased from 264,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 321,000 in the first quarter of 2022 Q1.
THE PREMIER Dr Zamani Saul has welcomed the slight increase in the employment rate in the Northern Cape as reflected in the first quarter of 2022 labour market statistics report by StatsSA.
He said the Northern Cape had lower rates than the national average for both youth and adult unemployment rates.
“The total number of employed persons increased from 264,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 321,000 in the first quarter of 2022 Q1 representing an increase of 21, 6 percent. The year-on-year increase was 8,131 jobs translating to a 2, 6 percent increase. There have also been improvements in the labour force participation rate to 52 percent year-on-year from 50.2 percent.”
Saul stated that there was a slight decrease in the unemployment rate which decreased from 25 percent in the last quarter to 24, 9 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
He noted that the unemployment rate had however risen on a year-on-year basis from 23,4 percent to 24,9 percent in the first quarter of 2022
“The number of discouraged work seekers increased from 98,000 to 122,000 but declined from 136,000 quarter-on-quarter to 122,000. More people became less willing and also not actively looking for work over the annual period most likely as a result of diminishing employment prospects. This could be ascribed to a number of factors including the impact of the global pandemic.”
Saul indicated that the formal non-agricultural sector was responsible for expanding employment the most quarter-on-quarter where almost 48,400 positions were filled while 8,300 workers were recruited in the agriculture sector.
“The informal sector expanded jobs by just fewer than 6,000. This sector has been consistent in adding to jobs over the recent period and shows great potential having also contributed the greatest share year-on-year at 11,410. It was followed by agriculture and private households in terms of contribution year-on-year with the formal non-agricultural sector having shed jobs on a year-on-year basis.”
He added that government services continued to be the largest employer with over 105,000 employees constituting roughly one third of provincial employees.
“The mining sector’s strong recovery has added a substantial number of jobs quarter-on-quarter at 19,760 with still positive job creation year-on-year of over 1,200.”
Saul anticipated strong employment growth in the manufacturing, renewable electricity generation and construction in the province in the future.
“This will add a much needed boost to the related tertiary economic activities.”
