South Africa Unemployment Rises Slightly as Michigan Launches New Platform

South Africa’s official unemployment rate ticked up to 33.7% in the third quarter of the year, rising from 33.6% in the second quarter, according to data released by Statistics South Africa. While the working-age population and the total number of employed individuals both grew, the expansion of the broader labor force outpaced job creation, pushing the number of jobless individuals to 8.6 million.

Data from the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that the number of employed people increased by 101,000 to reach 16.8 million between July and September. However, the labor force expanded by 198,000 people, or 0.8%, driven by an increase of 97,000 unemployed individuals. Significant employment gains were concentrated in sectors such as finance, which added 111,000 jobs, manufacturing with 33,000, and mining with 31,000.

Conversely, substantial job losses were recorded in private households, which shed 68,000 jobs, agriculture with a loss of 34,000, and construction, which dropped 8,000 positions. Employment in the informal sector and household sectors declined by 98,000 and 68,000 respectively, while the formal sector expanded by 268,000 jobs to reach 12.3 million workers.

Youth unemployment remained exceptionally high, though it edged down 0.1 percentage point to 47.3% during the third quarter. The total number of unemployed young people aged 15 to 34 decreased by 23,000 to 5 million, while young employment fell slightly by 5,000 to 5.5 million. Economists point out that sustained private-sector fixed investment and broader structural reforms will remain critical to translating economic growth into durable job creation.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency launched a modernized online platform called MiUI to streamline claims, tax payments, and certifications. The new mobile-friendly system replaces the 14-year-old Michigan Web Account Manager and the phone-based MARVIN system, both of which have been permanently retired.

The MiUI platform allows users to file new claims, upload documents, and view payments directly from smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. According to UIA Director Jason Palmer, the updated portal was designed around the end user to provide simpler navigation, enhanced fraud prevention, and plain-language forms.

The transition to MiUI brings several procedural updates for Michigan claimants, including a shift from biweekly to weekly benefit certifications and mandatory weekly work-search activities. Existing user data and claims were automatically transferred to the new platform, and state officials have scheduled coaching webinars and extended customer support hours to assist workers through the change.