There is no time to waste when it comes to job creation, the DA said on Thursday in response to the release of Statistics SA's data which shows unemployment has increased.

Statistics SA's quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that the official jobless rate had increased from 23.6 percent to 24.5 percent for the third quarter of 2009.

The Democratic Alliance's shadow minister of labour Andrew Louw said that using a broader definition, the increase in unemployment stood at 31.1 percent in the third quarter of 2009.

He said this was "a clear and urgent signal" to the African National Congress government that the status quo on labour regulation was not workable, nor sustainable.

"This figure incorporates discouraged work-seekers and is actually much more accurate in showing the shocking state of affairs.

"In essence, every third person capable of working does not have a job."

Louw said time was being wasted while people were losing their jobs.

"Now is not the time for naval-gazing on labour brokers, it is time for an honest assessment of what is needed in labour policy ? chief among them a loosening of stringent labour regulation."

Louw said far from creating the 500 000 new jobs that President Zuma had promised in his inaugural state of the nation address in June, the ANC's misguided labour policy was actively fuelling job losses thus compounding the effects of the global recession in South Africa.

Louw said families were facing the very real problem of not being able to buy food while home owners were no longer able to service their mortgages.

School leavers had little prospect of finding a job to support themselves and contribute to society.

"South Africa will only be able to create employment opportunities when employers feel safe to expand business and employ more people.

"Going out of one's way to accommodate the wishes of trade unions is not prudent labour policy, and commitments towards employment creation need to be backed by a capable administration," he said.

The DA would take the ANC government to task on its promise to reduce unemployment.

"Time is ticking on the supposed 500 000 jobs that will be available by year end ? the whole country is waiting with baited breath for Zuma to pull the rabbit out of the hat," Louw said.