As South Africa journeys on the road to economic recovery following an intense lock down  due to Covid 19, much effort will still need to be invested in rebuilding economic stability. According to a report from Statistics South Africa The expanded definition of unemployment has increased by 1.1 percentage points to 43.1% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter . The Quarterly Labour Force Survey report for the third quarter of 2020 reflect that the number of employed people increased by 543,000 to 14.7 million compared to the second quarter.

This is a shocking rise following  a report from statistic South Africa in September which has reflected that  despite the South African economy shedding 2.2 million jobs due to the COVID-19 lockdown, unemployment in the country dropped to 23.3% in the second quarter of 2020. In report released by stats SA today  it shows that  Unemployment has  increased substantially by "2.2 million (52.1%) to 6.5 million compared to quarter 2 of 2020 resulting in an increase of 2.8 million (15.1%) in the number of people in the labour force". 

The national statistics service in the report said the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 225 000 (9.1%), while the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 2.9 million (15.8%) between the two quarters. This has  resulted in a net decrease of 2.6 million (12.8%) in the not economically active population.

In an address on Wednesday night  regarding the progress in the national effort to contain the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic President Ramaphosa stated and emphasized that the country's attention is now moving towards an ambitious plan of economic reconstruction. He also added that as the country  transitions to a new phase as a  response, the only way forward is a rapid and sustained economic recovery.

 To aid the unemployed Ramaphosa stated that Through the various interventions that South Africa is making to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift is from relief to recovery. Thus Special COVID-19 Grant for a further three months, until January 2021 in order to provide much needed income to around 6 million people who are unemployed and do not receive any other form of government grant. The country continues  to focus on rebuilding following the global economic devastation resulted by the Corona virus pandemic.