COSATU statement on the unemployment numbers
30 November 2021
The unemployment statistics continue to worsen regardless of growth rates post the relaxation of the hard lock down levels since the second quarter of 2020. This goes to the heart of the non-employment generating growth trajectory of the country that must be addressed through the reconstruction of the South African economy.
The South African economy is currently vulnerable due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential of lock out from the rest of the world. South Africa is vulnerable to Covid-19 variants because of low levels of vaccine uptakes by members of society.
Further lockdowns in response to rising Covid-19 numbers are likely to worsen unemployment numbers, and this will result higher unemployment statistics in the near future.
The only way to protect lives, over and above, the non-pharmaceutical measures is to ramp up the vaccine drive to achieve community immunity. Vaccination becomes a tool not only to save lives but also to save livelihoods and jobs.