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Mail & Guardian
expanded unemploymentlatest news & developments
Unemployment epidemic: These men, gathered together to wait for the possibility of a piece job, are some of the 34.9% of South Africans who are without work, the highest figure among 82 countries monitored by business news agency Bloomberg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
COVID 19

Unemployment hits another record high as unrest takes its toll

The official unemployment rate rose to 34.9% in the third quarter of 2021 — the highest since 2008

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
The latest unemployment figures show deepening joblessness and continuous setbacks. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
ANITA BOSCH

Professional or working class, unemployment has hammered black women the most

The latest unemployment figures show deepening joblessness and continuous setbacks

  • Marcia Zali
  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Kate Monama is a mother who has been unemployed for five years. (Andy Mkosi)
ANITA BOSCH

A black woman’s burden: Carer, provider and unemployed

All indicators, including the employment statistics released this week show how black women bear the brunt of unemployment. Here are their stories

  • Sarah Smit
  • Marcia Zali
11 min read
The official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said it does not support a permanent expansion of the grant system at this stage.
BASIC INCOME GRANT

R350 grant: A ticket into the labour market — report

The Covid-19 social relief of distress grant was terminated at the end of April, but research shows it aided job recovery

  • Sarah Smit
5 min read
Struggles: Many South Africans sought relief from the Unemployment Insurance Fund at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jobs are now increasing but not fast enough. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AGRICULTURE

Economy’s signs of life mean little for the poor

GDP growth may be encouraging but it doesn’t mean much for SA’s millions of unemployed

  • Sarah Smit
6 min read
The unemployment rate reached 32.6%, the highest since the survey was launched in 2008, in the first three months of 2021
DISCOURAGED WORK SEEKERS

South Africa hits new unemployment record

The unemployment rate reached 32.6%, the highest since the survey was launched in 2008, in the first three months of 2021

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
Awaiting punters: Although there was some narrowing of the gap between men and women between April and June, women have still experienced greater job losses during the pandemic. The gender pay gap among the poor also widened during this period. (Michele Spatari/AFP)
COVID 19

Covid-19 jobs unlikely to bounce back

Evidence suggests that job losses triggered by the lockdown may be long lasting

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Analyses of racialised disparities in both labour and product markets illustrate the need for strengthened economic redress. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G
COVID 19

‘Lockdown quarter’ sees jobs bloodbath

The decline in employment has been accompanied by a larger increase in economic inactivity, resulting in a 42% expanded unemployment rate

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read