A rise in unemployment from 22.3% to 26.4% in Nelson Mandela Bay is no comfort for job seekers already struggling to put food on the table.
Figures released for the second quarter of 2025, from April to June, in the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) have revealed that Nelson Mandela Bay, which generates over a third of the Eastern Cape’s GDP, has suffered the single largest employment collapse in the province, signalling deep trouble for the entire Eastern Cape economy.
In a statement on 12 August, Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Vicky Knoetze said that the Eastern Cape simply cannot afford to lose more of its already dwindling workforce.
“The Eastern Cape cannot afford to watch more young people leave the province in search of work elsewhere,” she said. “Reforming local government to deliver infrastructure, cutting red tape for small businesses, investing in energy stability, and tackling rural safety head-on are essential for rebuilding economic confidence.”
The figures revealed that whilst the Eastern Cape’s unemployment rose just 0.2% from the first to the second quarter, provincially, 89,000 additional jobs were created.
However, the additional jobs are likely reflecting casual seasonal jobs and not long-term permanent jobs.
“These jobs are most likely to be seasonal, with citrus harvesting starting in April, resulting in more temporary jobs created in the agricultural sector that disappear at the end of the season,” Knoetze shared. “In contrast, the job losses in the Metro are most likely to be more permanent in nature.”
She added that the latest statistics are also reflecting the first shockwaves of the 25% US tariff on vehicles and components, which is “hammering” the Metro’s automotive sector and its supply chain.
“Notably, the figures released do not fully reflect the impact of the general 30% US tariff increases, which only really came into effect in August, and which will most likely be felt in the Q3 and Q4 statistics,” Knoetze added.
“The Metro’s official unemployment rate surged from 22.3% to 26.4%, and the expanded rate ballooned from 27.1% to 35%.”
Speaking to the PE Express on condition of anonymity, a 32-year-old father of one with a background in finance shared that he has been struggling to find a job for over a year.
“I’ve been unemployed since April last year,” he said. “My background is in finance, and it has been a struggle to find a job. You apply, but you never receive feedback, so you wait, and eventually, the hope kills you.”
When questioned on whether he was searching for a job in other provinces, the father said he hoped to stay close to his family, as he had previously worked away from home.
“I don’t want to move because I’ve mostly worked out of town.”
Meanwhile, he has been sending his CV to job vacancies, including government posts, in East London and Qonce (King William’s Town).
“You receive no response, especially from government jobs. I have a BCom degree and a postgraduate qualification in financial planning, and at this point, I am willing to take any job.
“I’m even resorting to applying for driving posts,” he shared.
The job search is taking its toll, but he is hopeful that a door of opportunity will open.
“It makes a person feel so despondent just to get an interview. I haven’t had any interviews for a few months.”
He shared the fears of neighbours who were facing job losses at the Goodyear plant in Kariega.
“They are so worried and don’t know what to do when they lose their job. With a large number of people losing their jobs, it is going to be even tougher to find a job.”
Meanwhile, a couple are selling banana loaves to make ends meet.
Elton Seale, who has been unemployed since 2019, sells banana bread at the traffic lights opposite Spar Figtree every week.
He and his wife, Vanessa, are both on disability grants.
“We get a disability grant at the moment, since I was hospitalised and had a nervous breakdown,” said Elton.
Elton, who used to be a tiler, had a bicycle accident which caused a head injury, he shares.
“Since COVID-19 came, I couldn’t find any tiling work because people didn’t want anyone in their houses. I was on and off with subcontractors and then booked off for medical reasons since 2019.”
Meanwhile, Vanessa, who has been wheelchair-bound since 2022, is on chronic medication and dependent on Elton.
“We use our grant for rent, water and electricity, so the extra money from the banana loaves is for the day-to-day chronic medication and the food,” she said.
“I used to be a care worker with cancer patients, and due to all the heavy lifting, my vertebrae in my back became damaged.”
She also suffers from osteoporosis.
By selling the banana loaves, the couple tries to make do with their limited resources.
“Most of the time we sell all the banana loaves we bake; people are really good to us,” said Vanessa.
The banana loaves cost R50 each, weigh around 1.5kg and are freshly baked.
“We can’t thank God enough for the opportunity to be able to bake this bread and for Elton to sell it,” Vanessa concluded.
