The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo is very concerned about the Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released on 1 June 2021 which reveals the foreboding reality of the people of Limpopo.
The QLSF reveals that during the period of March 2020 to March 2021, 139 000 people lost their jobs in Limpopo resulting in untold hardships currently endured by many families.
The 139 000 year-on-year lost jobs translates to a 10% decline in employment in Limpopo, which is the highest nationally.
During the quarter under review the province lost 33 000 jobs.
The DA acknowledges that the official unemployment rate for Limpopo increased by 2.1 percentage points from 27.3% to 29.4% in the fourth quarter, but this is cold comfort as the expanded unemployment rate of 49.5% is the true reflection as experienced by the people in the province.
The expanded unemployment rate (EUR) which increased by 5 percentage points from 44.5% in March 2020 to 49.5% in March 2021 is the second highest nationally behind the Eastern Cape who recorded an EUR of 49.6%.
This means 1 out of 2 persons in the workforce cannot find a job, or have given up all hope of finding a job.
The first quarter did show some recovery in the mining, transport and community and social services sectors.
We are further pleased to see that the agricultural sector remains a steady source of job creation which continues to create economic opportunities for mainly the rural parts of our province.
Year-on-year losses in manufacturing (27%), utilities (42%), construction (32%), trade (21%) and private households (27.8%) resulted in job losses of mainly unskilled workers who will struggle to find work in the current economic climate.
We call on Premier Stanly Mathabatha to urgently focus on infrastructure projects that will not only create jobs, but will also attract investments and to assist and incentivise small enterprises, like in the tourism sector, which focus on employment of women and the youth.
With determined political will, Limpopo’s natural resources and scenic beauty can be unleashed to create jobs and prosperity. Make this a reality by voting DA on 27 October 2021.