MPUMALANGA – Mpumalanga’s economy has seen a significant increase of 13,402 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey results released by Statistics South Africa. The number of employed persons increased by 132,000 to 17.1 million, bringing the national unemployment rate to 31.9 percent.
This growth has resulted in a decrease in the unemployment rate with the province by nearly three percent, from 37.4 percent in Q2 of 2024 to 34.7 percent in Q4 of 2024.
The sectors driving this growth include agriculture, transport and communication, as well as finance. However, the construction industry faced challenges during the same period, following a strong performance in the previous quarter.
MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, welcomed the news, stating that it is a result of the government’s efforts to collaborate closely with the private sector to create jobs. “We recommit to continue strengthening our partnership with social partners, especially business, to create more jobs in the future,” she said.
The latest increase in job creation has led to the provincial employment level doubling over the past 30 years, reaching 1.25 million people in Q4 of 2024. Unemployment rates among females, youth, and Bachelor’s degree graduates have also decreased significantly.
To sustain this growth, the government plans to address skills shortages in the labour market, improving the employability of young people. As MEC Masilela emphasised, “We want to significantly bring down the unemployment rate, especially among women and young people.”
