Durban recorded the lowest official unemployment rate of the major metros and outperformed the national average, according to Stats SA’s 2023Q4 QLFS publication. The unemployment rate decreased 0.4percentage points, from 22.5% in 2023Q3 to 22.1% in 2023Q4. Despite this decline, the actual number of unemployed individuals in the city increased by4,000, reaching 359,000, making Durban the second lowest in unemployed individuals after Johannesburg. The decrease in the unemployment rate is as a result of the notable increase in the number of employed individuals, which rose by 44,000 from 1,220 000 to 1,263 000 in 2023Q4, surpassing all other metros. Durban also recorded the highest absorption rate, of 1.5%, improving from 46.1% to 47.6% in 2023Q4, compared to other metros and the national average. In 2023Q4, the labour force in Durban continued to expand, with an increase of 48,000 individuals and the participation rate increasing from 59.6% to 61.1%.The number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by25,000 in Durban, which mirrors a similar trend across major metros and suggests a positive shift toward individuals actively seeking employment. Furthermore, the data indicates a decline of 38,000in individuals not economically active, signalling efforts by more individuals to participate in the labour force.