The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the period October to December 2023 as released by Stats SA today indicates that despite a 30.3% unemployment rate, which is down by 0.5 percentage points, 40 000 workers in Limpopo lost their jobs.
Quarter-to-quarter losses were experienced in the agriculture sector (9000 job losses) ,the manufacturing sector(5000 job losses) the trade sector (15 000 job losses), private households (6 000 job losses) ,the finance sector (7000 job losses) and the community and social services sector in the province lost 34 000 jobs.
It is clear that most sectors reliant on a regular energy supply was hardest hit.
The agriculture sector has the highest employment absorption capacity and is buckling under the strain of constant loadshedding.
It is concerning that Limpopo has the third largest, in expanded, unemployment rate nationally at 46.7% with only the Eastern Cape and North West Province at higher percentages.
Limpopo province now has 1498 000 employed people in stark contrast to the 3 073 000 unemployed, discouraged work seekers and not economically active individuals – 1 829 000 individuals, mostly youth, are not in education employment or training.
The ANC government clearly lacks the political will to curb the loadshedding crisis to prevent future quarterly job losses and increased cost of living for people who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The DA is the only party with credible and implementable solutions to end loadshedding and job creation. Give us your vote in the upcoming elections to rescue South Africa.