Western Cape leads in job creation and maintains lowest unemployment rate
The Western Cape continues to have the lowest unemployment rate among all provinces, at 19.6% in Quarter 4 of 2024. This also marks the lowest unemployment rate in the province in six years (since Q1 2019). This brings the average unemployment rate to 20.7% in the Western Cape for 2024, compared to 34.9% across all other provinces.
Compared to last year, the Western Cape has 16,000 fewer unemployed people (now at 686,000) and 55,000 more jobs, bringing total employment to 2.8 million.
In Quarter 4 2024, the province created the most jobs in the country, adding 62,000 jobs quarter-on-quarter, while South Africa created 132,000 net jobs.
The average annual unemployment rate for the province also saw a marginal decline, from 20.8% in 2023 to 20.7% in 2024. The significant drop of 31.6 % in discouraged work seekers in the Western Cape, compared to a 13.7% increase nationally, is a clear indication of the positive sentiment in the job seeker market as more jobs become available in the Western Cape.
Six of the ten sectors recorded job gains, with the finance and transport sectors showing particularly strong growth.
Minister Ivan Meyer, Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, states, “It is clear that the Western Cape Growth for Jobs Strategy is supporting the economy, as the Western Cape leads in job creation. It is promising that the province maintains the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa. We are determined to see even more progress.”
Premier Alan Winde said, “I am exceptionally pleased with the latest labour statistics. For the second quarter, the Western Cape has kept unemployment below the 20% mark at 19.6%. Our province continues to exhibit the highest employment rates in the country by far, and now also leads the nation in Absorption and Labour Force Participation Rates. These victories run far deeper than numbers on a page. Each of the 62,000 new jobs created in the Western Cape during the period under review represents a meaningful step toward dignity and upliftment for entire communities and a critical part of our ongoing efforts to maintain the Western Cape’s position as the greatest province in our nation. These latest figures show that our unwavering commitment to economic growth is paying off, and our residents continue to benefit. While there is always more progress, we are confident in our growth and job creation efforts.”
