South Africa unemployment climbs to 43.7% as COSATU demands urgent stimulus

Statistics South Africa’s first‑quarter 2026 labour force survey shows the expanded unemployment rate jumping to 43.7%, with the overall unemployment rate rising to 32.7% and youth unemployment reaching about 45.8%. The survey recorded a loss of 301,000 jobs, bringing total unemployment to over 8.1 million people, and highlighted major cuts in community and social services (206,000 jobs), construction (110,000), transport (30,000) and private households (28,000).

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called for “urgent and decisive action,” urging a large stimulus package, lower electricity costs, full restoration of rail and ports, and accelerated investment in infrastructure. It also demands stronger action against crime and corruption. In Mpumalanga, COSATU warned that more than 40,000 jobs were lost, pressing the government and business to create decent work, expand training and apprenticeships, fill vacant public posts, boost local industrialisation, protect workers from unfair retrenchments and end exploitative outsourcing.