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Once again South Africa’s unemployment rate just narrowly missed the 33% mark following an increase in the first three months of 2023.

According to StatsSA’s official figures released today, 32.9% of South Africans are without a job or proper income. This is up by 0.2% compared to the last quarter in 2022, despite some small gains in employment. 

While the “real” or expanded unemployment rate, which includes the people who have given up looking for jobs, might have dropped slightly, it also remains at a horrendous 42.4%.

The stubbornly high figure is a stark reminder that millions of South Africans will remain trapped in poverty for a number of more years, many without any sort of daily income to survive on.

Particularly grim is the 1,1% increase in the youth (15-34 years) unemployment rate to 46,5% in Q1:2023. This debilitating reality means 4,9 million young people have little to no hope for a future in South Africa, unless we have drastic change. 

Despite any optimism around some modest economic growth, the unemployment figure leaves us with no choice but to address the urgent necessity to meet the basic needs of millions of struggling citizens. 

South Africa needs an economy that can generate jobs, but in the meantime it needs a complete overhaul of its social security system, starting with the introduction of measures such as a Basic Income Grant.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament