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Key findings: P0211 - Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), 4th Quarter 2021
The official unemployment rate was 35,3% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2021 show that the number of employed persons increased by 262 000 to 14,5 million, and the number of unemployed persons also increased by 278 000 to 7,9 million in the 4th quarter of 2021 compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021. While the number of not economically active population decreased by 397 000 to 17, 4 million during this quarter. The number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by 56 000 (1,4%) and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 341 000 (2,4%) between the two quarters.
These changes in the labour market resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0,4 of a percentage point from 34,9% in the third quarter of 2021 to 35,3% in the fourth quarter of 2021 - the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008. The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition of unemployment decreased by 0,4 of a percentage point to 46,2 % in quarter 4 2021 compared to quarter 3 2021.
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- Sivuyile Mangxamba, Director:Media and Public Relations, Tel: +27 12 310 4732, Cell: +27 82 888 2372
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Subject area contacts
Economic StatsJoe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)012 310 8024 082 888 2600 joedb@statssa.gov.za Peter Perkins (Economist) 012 310 8389 082 883 9532 peterp@statssa.gov.za |
Social StatsGwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)012 310 8333 082 888 2323 gwenL@statssa.gov.za Neo Nghenavo (Director) 012 310 8047 082 888 2613 neon@statssa.gov.za |
| Topic | Contact | Alternative Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices |
Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 patrickke@statssa.gov.za |
Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 marietjieb@statssa.gov.za |
| Government finance: national and provincial government | Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za |
Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 elizabethma@statssa.gov.za |
| Government finance: local government | Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za |
Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 malibongwem@statssa.gov.za |
| Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
|
| Gross domestic product (GDP), production | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 bontlenyanam@statssa.gov.za |
| Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 litshanil@statssa.gov.za |
| Environmental-economic accounts | Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 gerhardb@statssa.gov.za |
Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 riaang@statssa.gov.za |
| Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 nicolaic@statssa.gov.za |
| Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 keshneen@statssa.gov.za |
| Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 joycee@statssa.gov.za |
| Annual financial statistics (AFS) | Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za |
Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 amukelanin@statssa.gov.za |
| Quarterly financial statistics (QFS) | Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za |
Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 krisseelang@statssa.gov.za |
| Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture) |
Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 itanim@statssa.gov.za |
Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 tshepop@statssa.gov.za |
| Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey) | Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 christinek@statssa.gov.za |
Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 angelan@statssa.gov.za |
| Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates | Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 diegoi@statssa.gov.za |
Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 chantalMu@statssa.gov.za |
| Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) | Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 DesireeM@statssa.gov.za Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
| Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) | Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 matlapanem@statssa.gov.za |
| Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 BrendaMo@statssa.gov.za |
| Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 JosephL@statssa.gov.za |
| Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 NielR@statssa.gov.za |
| Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 SollyMol@statssa.gov.za |
| Gender Statistics | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 TshepoMab@statssa.gov.za |
| Mortality and Causes of Deaths | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Tourism and Migration | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za |
| Registered Births | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Marriages and Divorces | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za |
| Living Conditions Survey | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Income and Expenditure Survey | Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 Noziphos@statssa.gov.za |
Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 wernerr@statssa.gov.za |
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