From once being known as the "ugly sister" city to the "Capital of Cool", Durban is making waves.
Contrary to what many Capetonians, Joburgers (and even some Durbanites) have conclusively agreed upon, Durban is no city to be overlooked.
Not only is the seaside city among the New7Wonders cities, but it claimed 7th position on the New York Times’ list of the 52 Places to Go in 2015. Now, figures released by Statistics South Africa reveal that Durban is the best city to work, toppling everybody's favourites - Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Durban's unemployment rates are lower
There's more to Durban than sun, sea and sand: According to Statistics SA’s quarterly Labour Force Survey, Durban’s official unemployment rate currently stands at 16.5%, while Johannesburg and Cape Town’s unemployment rates are 26.2% and 22.6% respectively. Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest unemployment rate at 33.2%.
The stats also reveal that the number of unemployed people has dropped by a substantial 305 000, while the number of employed people has increased by up to 198 000.
Durban presents attractive business opportunities
Many companies have always favoured major cities to establish business operations, often referring to Durban as the “ugly sister”. However, Labour Economist Loane Sharp informed Business Day that attractive wage and benefits have helped many to set up new operations or grow existing ones in coastal city.
Lillian Ngoyi Road in Morningside, Helen Joseph Road in Glenwood and the vibrant street markets, are turning a once barren city into a shoppers' paradise.
Leading companies are setting up operations in Durban and business is flourishing for small-scale businesses. “Considering that 81% of eThekwini’s small business owners are black and 91% of employment in the area occurs in small or medium enterprises, Durban has staged something of a comeback and is an example for the rest of the economy to follow," Sharp told Business Day.
And the recent announcement by senior Federation official Louise Martin, puts a stamp on the Durban's revival. In 2022, Durban will be the very first African city to host the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has called the Durban bid "an historic and special moment for the Commonwealth sporting movement".
We call it, more job opportunities.
Another major contributor to the Durban’s job success is the city’s sector development programme which has been facilitated by the municipality’s economic development and investment promotion unit.
Durban has the best quality of life
Living standards in Durban rank above the country’s traditional economic powerhouse of Johannesburg, and the tourist hub, Cape Town. With locals and tourists scurrying the city streets to spot the next bunny chow vendor, it's no surprise.
In Mercer’s annual Quality of Living survey, Durban was listed as 85th out of 230 cities, with Cape Town taking the 91st placing just above Johannesburg which was placed on the 94th spot. High-quality housing, plentiful recreational offerings and good consumer goods availability, boosted the city's higher ranking.
Think of areas such as Umhlanga, Ballito and the North Beach that offer dwellers little pieces of heaven, at the best prices. Nestled in the heart of the city are uShaka Marine World - the city's main attraction and Moses Mabhida with its iconic "arch of truimph", providing convenience for the city's adventurers. Durban is truly the epitome of a good balanced lifestyle.
Through Durban’s Investment Dashboard strategy, which had 65 active projects to the value of R620bn, the city has planned to generate more than 600 000 permanent jobs.
An excellent quality of life with growing job opportunities, what more could a jobseeker ask for? Visit our job search page to find the latest jobs in Durban.
