# eThekwini economic development and employment > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ethekwini-economic-development-and-employment > Updated: 2026-08-17T08:57:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality reported the lowest unemployment rate among South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities for the second quarter of 2026. The rate stood at 21.2%, significantly lower than the national average of 33.6%. This economic performance was supported by the addition of approximately 30,000 jobs, with growth driven primarily by the trade and construction sectors. Government officials attributed these results to the Presidential Working Group on eThekwini, which has focused on infrastructure, economic, and water-security interventions. Following these macroeconomic indicators, the municipality has initiated efforts to remove administrative and regulatory barriers to facilitate major private developments in Durban. Led by City Manager Musa Mbhele, the municipality is monitoring 20 strategic investment projects. As of mid-August 2026, 50% of identified blockages have been resolved, with resolution rates varying by region, ranging from 100% in the North Central region to 25% in the Central region. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-17: eThekwini Municipality unblocks strategic investments in Durban eThekwini Municipality is unblocking 20 strategic investment projects in Durban to boost economic momentum and private capital flow, following a significant reduction in the local unemployment rate. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ethekwini-municipality-unblocks-strategic-investments-in-durban ### 2026-08-13: eThekwini records lowest metropolitan unemployment rate in South Africa eThekwini has recorded the lowest metropolitan unemployment rate in South Africa at 21.2% for Q2 2026, surpassing Cape Town and Johannesburg despite rising national unemployment trends. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ethekwini-records-lowest-metropolitan-unemployment-rate-in-south-africa --- Cite as: eThekwini economic development and employment. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ethekwini-economic-development-and-employment