Between April and June, 159,000 people joined the labour force, but only 19,000 secured employment, while 140,000 were added to the ranks of the unemployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of discouraged work-seekers who have stopped looking for work fell slightly by 28,000, while the number of people not economically active for other reasons remained unchanged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, decreased marginally from 43.1% to 42.9%. However, the data showed that some provinces fared better than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gauteng and the Eastern Cape saw the largest employment gains, with 95,000 and 89,000 more people employed, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape recorded job losses of 117,000, 86,000, and 28,000, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite its losses, the Western Cape has the lowest official unemployment rate at 21.1% and is the only province with an expanded unemployment rate below 30%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The North West is in the worst position. The province has an official unemployment rate of 40.1% and an expanded unemployment rate of 54.7%, meaning more than half of its working-age population is unemployed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the only province where the majority of adults are either unemployed or have stopped looking for work altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 14.6% of the unemployed have given up looking for work. The province also has the lowest labour absorption rate in the country at 31.6% and one of the lowest labour force participation rates at 52.7%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The province\u2019s economy relies heavily on mining, particularly platinum mining, which accounts for 28% of its GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturing plays a smaller role, focused mainly on food, beverages, and metals. A rise in commodity prices in 2021 temporarily boosted the economy, but the mining sector has since entered a technical recession after contracting in the first quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation needs to be declared a disaster <\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/North-West-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe mining industry has faced ongoing challenges nationally. Regulatory uncertainty has discouraged investment, and problems at state-owned enterprises such as Eskom and Transnet have affected operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Old Mutual Wealth chief investment strategist Izak Odendaal, the sector has been in long-term decline over the past decade<\/a> in terms of both output and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernance issues have also contributed to the province\u2019s economic difficulties. The Auditor-General has pointed to instability in municipal leadership, weak controls, and poor service delivery as areas needing urgent improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe mining industry has faced ongoing challenges nationally. Regulatory uncertainty has discouraged investment, and problems at state-owned enterprises such as Eskom and Transnet have affected operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Old Mutual Wealth chief investment strategist Izak Odendaal, the sector has been in long-term decline over the past decade<\/a> in terms of both output and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Governance issues have also contributed to the province\u2019s economic difficulties. The Auditor-General has pointed to instability in municipal leadership, weak controls, and poor service delivery as areas needing urgent improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n