Last Updated on September 21, 2023 by ufiling
The country with the highest unemployment rate in Africa was South Africa. South Africa has been grappling with high unemployment rates for several years. According to data from Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate in the country was around 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020, which was the highest rate in over a decade. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issue, leading to widespread job losses across various sectors of the economy.
The high unemployment rate in South Africa can be attributed to several factors. One of the primary causes is the country’s sluggish economic growth, which has failed to generate enough jobs to keep pace with the growing labor force. Additionally, structural issues such as a lack of skills and education among the workforce, racial inequality, and inadequate labor market policies have contributed to the high unemployment rate.
Youth unemployment is a particularly pressing issue in South Africa. The unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 34 was approximately 63.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The lack of job opportunities for the youth not only hampers economic development but also contributes to social challenges, such as crime and social unrest.
It’s important to note that economic and employment conditions can change over time, and there may be more recent data available that could impact the ranking of countries in terms of unemployment rates. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to the most up-to-date sources and reports from reputable organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank for the latest information on unemployment rates in African countries.