'More people have a chance of getting a job here' - Western Cape leads SA with lowest unemployment rate
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde discusses the province's economic growth strategies.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
The Western Cape has once again cemented its position as South Africa’s leading province in job creation, recording the lowest unemployment rate in the country for the first quarter of 2025.
According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the Western Cape’s official unemployment rate stands at 19.6%, the only province with an unemployment rate below 20% for the third consecutive quarter.
Premier Alan Winde welcomed the figures, describing them as a sign that the province’s economic policies are producing results.
“In this province, you are more likely to get a job. More people have a chance of getting a job here than anywhere in South Africa,” he said.
The Western Cape also outperformed all other provinces in key labour metrics, including the Expanded Unemployment Rate at 24.7%, Absorption Rate at 56.0%, and Labour Force Participation Rate at 69.6%.
The province recorded the highest year-on-year job creation, adding 121,000 jobs, four times more than Gauteng’s 30,000 jobs and nearly triple the national total of 43,000.
“These latest numbers are once again a clear indication that the Western Cape Government’s approach to growing the province's economy is working,” Winde said.
“For yet another quarter, the Western Cape has managed to keep its unemployment rate below 20%. This provides the strongest proof yet that our renewed efforts to grow the economy and create jobs are having the desired effect.”
Despite the positive trends, Winde acknowledged the ongoing challenge of unemployment.
“Unfortunately, unemployment remains a stubborn issue. We will, however, not let up in implementing our economic growth strategies to keep driving down unemployment in our province. There is still much more work to do,” he added.
The Premier stressed the human impact of job creation, saying, “Every job we help create adds value to our economy and restores dignity to our residents. Every job represents the hard work we all put in every day to make a difference in our province.”
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, highlighted that this is one of the lowest Q1 unemployment rates for the province since 2009.
“The number of ‘not economically active individuals’ in the province has decreased by 42,000, suggesting that people are re-entering the labour force (either finding employment or actively seeking it). This is all positive and augurs well for the Western Cape Government's goal to grow the economy to R1 trillion by 2035, creating thousands of jobs,” Meyer said.
The province also welcomed national moves to relax competition regulations in the ports and rail sector, a decision by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, seen as crucial to improving logistics and economic performance.
“Initiatives such as the provincial government’s Growth for Jobs plan and Operation Vulindlela are aimed at attracting more private sector participation,” said Winde.
“It is encouraging to see these kinds of policies increasingly being adopted by the national government. As these reforms begin to take effect, we look forward to taking advantage of a healthier national economy to further push down our unemployment rate.”
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