According to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2022, Limpopo has the third highest expanded unemployment rate (49.9%) after the provinces of the Eastern Cape (53%) and the Northern Cape (50.3%).

In Limpopo it is a matter of concern that the province now has about 700 000 people who are desperate for a job and 511 000 who has given up hope of ever finding the means to earn a living.

The expanded unemployment rate reflects on the job seekers who have given up to find any new jobs in a scenario where it is difficult to get employment. Narrow unemployment refers to the people who are unemployed but are seeking jobs and trying to get some work.

The report also reflects that the country’s unemployment rate was at 32.7%, a decrease of 0.2%, but in Limpopo, adverse labour market conditions, including frequent labour strikes, high wage demands, high inputs costs and power shortages continue to discourage private sector investment, constraining job creation.

It is surprising that South Africa’s unemployment rate trended downwards in the third quarter of 2022 despite the inflated cost of living, rising interest rates and fuel prices and worsening load-shedding.

This marks the lowest unemployment rate in six quarters, as the number of unemployed persons declined by 269 000 to 7.725 million, while employment rose by 204 000 to 15.765 million.

In the recent State of the Province Address, Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha said that it is worth noting that the official unemployment rate (narrow) has decreased in six provinces.

“We are pleased to report that the largest decrease was recorded in Limpopo at 5.3%, that is from 36.3%, down to 31%. A worrying trend, however, is that young people aged 15 to 24 and 25 to 34 recorded the highest unemployment rates nationally. In that quarter, there were 10.2 million young people aged 15 to 24 years across the country, of who 34.5% were not in employment, education or training,” the premier said and added that is important to note that to be considered unemployed a person must be an active member of the labour force and in search of remunerative work.