8.5 Million Jobless As South Africa’s Unemployment Rate Rises Again

By FRANKLIN FRANCIS FREY

SOUTH Africa’s unemployment crisis has worsened, with the national jobless rate rising to 33.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.

The figure represents an increase from 32.7 per cent recorded in the first quarter of the year.

New data from the country’s national statistics department shows that about 8.5 million people were unemployed during the period.

The number of people in employment also declined.

South Africa lost about 16,000 jobs, bringing total employment down to approximately 16.7 million.

Several key sectors recorded fresh job losses.

Community and social services shed workers, while the mining, agriculture, manufacturing and utilities sectors also experienced declines.

The losses underline the continuing difficulty of expanding employment in Africa’s most industrialised economy.

Provincial data also revealed sharp differences across the country.

The Western Cape, Gauteng and North West recorded the steepest employment declines during the quarter.

The rise in unemployment means millions of South Africans remain outside the formal labour market despite continued efforts to stimulate economic activity and create jobs.

At the same time, the fall in the number of employed people suggests that the problem extends beyond new entrants struggling to find work.

Existing jobs are also disappearing.

Officials did not provide clear reasons for the latest deterioration, leaving uncertainty over the immediate factors driving the losses across major sectors and provinces.

The figures nevertheless reinforce the scale of South Africa’s long-running employment challenge.

With one in every three people in the labour force now unemployed, pressure is likely to grow on the government to strengthen economic growth, encourage investment and create more opportunities for young people and other vulnerable job seekers.