Question NW1623 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

Reply:

According to the latest Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (2017, Quarter 1):

(a) The overall graduate unemployment rate currently stands at 17.8%. This figure refers to persons aged 15 – 64 years, who have a tertiary qualification[1], and who are unemployed[2].

(b) (i) 7.3% of persons aged 15 – 64 years, who have a university degree, are unemployed.

(ii) In relation to diplomas, Stats SA does not disaggregate information between Universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges. 11% of persons aged 15 – 64 years, who have a diploma, are unemployed.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 1623 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

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1. Stats SA defines Tertiary to refer to: NATED N4, N5 and N6 part-qualifications (or the older NTC 4, NTC 5, NTC 6); Diploma with less than Grade 12/STD 10; Certificate with Grade 12/STD 10; Diploma with Grade 12/STD 10, Higher Diploma, Post higher diploma (Masters, Doctoral Degree), Bachelors Degree, Bachelors Degree and Post Graduate Diploma, Honours Degree, Higher Degree (Masters/PHD). ↑

2. Stats SA defines Unemployed persons as those (aged 15–64 years) who: a) Were not employed in the reference week; and b) Actively looked for work or tried to start a business in the four weeks preceding the survey interview; and c) Were available for work, i.e. would have been able to start work or a business in the reference week; or d) Had not actively looked for work in the past four weeks but had a job or business to start at a definite date in the future and were available. ↑