Census 2011 paints grim unemployment picture for black women(SABC)
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Employment amongst black Africans remains scarce, with black
women having the highest rate of unemployment and the lowest employment
opportunities. That's according to the results of Census 2011 released in
Pretoria yesterday.
Official unemployment for black women stands at 41.2%.
However, the expanded definition of unemployment puts the rate for black women
at almost 53%.
Unemployment is lowest amongst white men and women (5% and
6.9%) respectively. Indians/Asians have the second lowest rate of unemployment,
with coloureds coming in third. Across the board, women experience higher rates
of unemployment than men.
Official unemployment for black women stands at 41.2%
The statistics also show a skewed distribution of employment opportunities, with white men having the highest labour absorption rate of 75.5%, with Indian/Asian men second highest at 65%. Black women have the lowest – 28.8%.
Official unemployment has increased to almost 30%. However, Statistics SA has stressed that the Quarterly Labour Force Survey which puts unemployment at 23.9% is a better indicator of the activity of the labour market.
Census 2011 results also show that while there was positive economic growth in the seven years ahead of the period of the exercise, it did not translate into a significant reduction in the number of unemployed people in South Africa. A number of reasons, including labour rigidity in the country, have been attributed to this.
