The rate of of unemployment for Gauteng rose significantly by 7.2 percentage points between 2007 and 2011. The greatest increase was recorded between the second quarters of 2008 and 2009. During this period unemployment rose by 4 percentage points from 21.8% to 25.8%. This reflects the strong impact that the global financial crisis had on the economy of the GCR. Unemployment in the GCR peaked at 27.8% in 2011, before decreasing to 24.8% in 2012. The decrease in the second quarter of 2012 was in line with an overall reduction in unemployment nationally, and a general recovery of in the economy of the GCR after 2009.
Of all the provinces, Gauteng had the greatest decrease in unemployment of 3% during the second quarter of 2012.
