The North West province faces a deepening jobs crisis, with over 57,000 jobs lost in the first quarter of this year, according to Statistics South Africa. Hardest hit were the trade sector—including restaurants and hotels—which shed 50,000 jobs, followed by construction and mining.
With formal employment scarce, many residents rely on informal odd jobs to survive. “We take whatever work we can find—cleaning yards, painting, anything to earn something,” said one jobseeker. Others highlighted the dire struggle to support families, with one resident stating in Mahikeng, “If you don’t get daily work, you go home with nothing. A 12.5kg bag of maize doesn’t last a month.”
Economists urge the government to address skills gaps and attract private investment to revive key industries. “The government must create an environment that encourages job creation,” emphasized an analyst. As unemployment worsens, desperate calls grow for urgent intervention to stabilize the province’s economy.
