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The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has reviewed the recently released Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) by Statistics South Africa and expresses its dissatisfaction with the current state of the country's labour force.

While FEDUSA welcomes the slight decrease in the official unemployment rate, which now stands at 31.9% in Q3: 2023 compared to Q2: 2023, the overall statistics paint a grim picture of the future of South Africa's labour force.

The statistics reveal a net decrease of 186,000 in the not economically active population, with a decrease of 26,000 discouraged work-seekers (down by 0.8%) and a decrease of 160,000 individuals not economically active for reasons other than discouragement (down by 1.2%) between the two quarters.

Furthermore, FEDUSA recognises the employment gains observed across all sectors, with the formal sector experiencing the highest increase of 287,000 jobs, followed by the Agricultural sector (up by 61,000), informal sector (up by 29,000), and Private households (up by 22,000) in Q3: 2023.

However, FEDUSA finds it disheartening that more women continue to face unemployment compared to men. This persistent gender inequality in the labour force is both disappointing and unacceptable, especially considering the efforts made over the years to include women in the workforce.

Given the high cost of living, many households, particularly those headed by women, struggle to make ends meet. Therefore, FEDUSA calls upon the government and businesses to allocate funds and resources to empower and skill women, enabling them to actively participate in the labour force.

FEDUSA remains committed to advocating for fair and equal opportunities for all individuals in the South African labour force. We urge stakeholders to prioritize gender equality and work towards creating an inclusive and prosperous future for our nation.

Issued by FEDUSA