Nearly 1 million new jobs in one year under the ANC-led government
15 November 2023
The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the latest unemployment rate figures, which shows that unemployment has declined from 32.9% in the third quarter of last year to 31.9% in the third quarter of this year, 2023.
The number of people employed has increased by nearly 1 million (979 000) year on year, with over 16.7 million people now employed in the South African economy up from 15.7m last year, surpassing the pre-pandemic employment level of about 16.5 million.
A key driver of employment has been the creation of 134 000 new jobs in the construction sector in the past year. This is the result of economic reforms implemented by the ANC-led government, which have boosted increased infrastructure investment including significant new investment in roof-top solar systems and other electricity-related investment.
Increased employment in finance (about 450 000 new jobs in the past year) is testament to the ANC-led government's overall prudent management of the economy and the increase in employment linked to community and social services (about 235 000 new jobs) has been assisted amongst other things by the success of the Presidential Employment Stimulus programme.