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Stats SA's announcement that total employment decreased by 119 000 (-1,2% quarter-on-quarter) from 10 067 000 in March 2022 to 9 948 000 in June 2022 is disheartening. 

According to Stats SA, full-time employment decreased by 80 000 (-0,9% year-on-year) between June 2021 and June 2022. Looking beyond the dismal numbers lurks the reality of millions of impoverished South Africans in dire need of employment.

UASA is deeply concerned about the economic woes that the country is facing and is projected to face in the future. 

We are saddened to see our economy shrink before our eyes and jobless workers survive from hand to mouth. Load shedding continues to be a  disruptive force challenging an economy struggling to recover or create new jobs.

UASA's main concern is that economic disaster looms. The critical need for economic sustainability is employment, but our economy is failing to produce sufficient jobs for its people. With load shedding now an everyday problem, businesses struggle to keep their head above water as they have to look for alternative power supply sources, adding more expenses to business operations. Cutting staff is often the only solution to survive.

Enough is enough! Creating employment and economic sustainability for all citizens of South Africa must be a government priority. We call on the government and relevant stakeholders to be proactive and take decisive action now. South Africans want to be heard and demand action.

Issued by UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo