This, as the country awaits a report by Statistics South Africa. OFM News in June reported that the number of unemployed South Africans stood at 30.1% with young people and women still the hardest hit. The Northern Cape had recorded the highest rate of young people aged 15-24 years, not in employment, education, or training. 

Figures for the first quarter of 2020 indicated that the unemployment rate among the youth is higher, irrespective of their education level. 

Statistician Risenga Maluleke indicated in his report that youth unemployment in the Northern Cape stood at 41.6%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the North West.

Countywide, approximately 8,5 million (41,7%) of the 20,4 million young people aged 15-34 years were not in employment, education, or training.

Maluleke in his report further indicated that the Eastern Cape recorded the highest official and expanded unemployment rates, followed by the Free State.

Social media users are meanwhile taking to Twitter and Facebook to raise concerns over job losses that have been reported since the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Maluleke is expected to release the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2020 at 11:00.

OFM News