The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Statistics South Africa has revealed that North West continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the country, despite slight improvements over the past year.

The official unemployment rate for the province now stands at 40.1%, a marginal drop of 0.3% from the previous quarter and 1.2% lower than the same period last year. However, the expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, remains alarmingly high at 54.7%, with more than 1.5 million residents still without work.

North West also has the lowest absorption rate in the country at 31.6%, indicating the smallest proportion of working-age residents currently employed. Labour force participation is among the lowest nationally at 52.7%.

In response to these ongoing challenges, the Democratic Alliance (DA) marched to the Office of the Premier on 4 July, handing over a memorandum that called for urgent interventions. Their proposals included:

• Declaring unemployment a provincial disaster

• Launching a Premier-led Youth Employment War Room

• Implementing a turnaround jobs plan with measurable targets

• Prioritising infrastructure projects to unlock economic growth

• Publishing quarterly reports on investment and job creation

The party stressed that while the private sector is key to driving employment, government has a critical role in creating an environment that enables sustainable job growth.

One month later, the DA claims there has been no response from Premier Lazarus Mokgosi. According to the party, no jobs crisis plan exists and proposals to address unemployment have been ignored.

They have now requested that the Portfolio Committee responsible for overseeing the Premier place the matter high on its agenda during upcoming engagements.

“The Premier’s continued silence is a betrayal of North West residents,” the DA stated, adding that ribbon-cutting ceremonies and public events will not solve the province’s unemployment crisis.

With the latest statistics showing little change, the province’s economic future remains uncertain, and pressure on the Premier’s office is mounting to take decisive action.