This is according to Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

Farmer's Weekly editor Janine Ryan added that the number of employed South Africans rose to 16.2 million. This is while the number of unemployed people increased to 7.9 million.

The statistics identified young people as the most vulnerable group in the labour market, with 62.1% of those aged 15 to 24, and 40.7% of those aged 25 to 34 being unemployed.

Ryan further said that about 3.7 million people aged 15 to 24 were not in employment, education, or training. The largest industry employment gains were recorded in finance, which recruited 184 000 people. Community and social services recruited 175 000 people, while agriculture added 27 000 more workers.

Another story looks at how owls can be a significant ally in controlling rodents in grainlands. 

According to Ryan, farmers have a greater chance of attracting sufficient numbers by controlling rodents naturally rather than with rodenticide if they place owl boxes on their land.

A project undertaken by EcoSolutions in the Eastern Cape where owl boxes were erected to in a hope of attracting larger owl populations, proofed successful and resulted in an occupancy rate of 60%. 

Since they are prone to return to their place of birth to breed, the success of the owl boxes increases over time.

These boxes particularly attract barn owls.

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