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BDLive writes that SA’s jobless rate has escalated to an eight-year high, bringing into question whether ambitious targets to halve unemployment by 2020 can be achieved.
The unemployment rate jumped to 26.7%, or 5.7-million people, in the first quarter from 24.5%, or 5.2-million, in the previous quarter. Notwithstanding the effect of dwindling global demand for commodities and severe drought, the figures suggested that SA’s jobs policies were inadequate, Stats SA statistician-general Pali Lehohla said. He commented further: "When the results are like this, it shows that you need to adjust your employment policies. Programmes like the expanded public works programme have not really disturbed the steady unemployment rate." The numbers showed the "current macroeconomic policy configuration is off the rails and not delivering results", said Pan African Advisory Services CEO and economist Iraj Abedian.
- Read this report by Ntsakisi Maswanganyi in full at BDLive
- Read too, SA’s volatile (un)employment crisis: Even jobs that are created may not last, at Daily Maverick
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page