South Africa unemployment rate rises to 33.6%

South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Statistics South Africa. This represents an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous quarter and 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.

The crisis is most acute among young people, with the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 reaching 62.8%. Additionally, the rate for 25-to-34-year-olds rose to 41.8%. The broader economy saw employment fall by 16,000 people during the quarter, while the number of unemployed individuals increased by 345,000 to a total of 8.5 million.

Sector-specific data indicates significant job losses in community and social services, which shed 57,000 jobs in the quarter. The manufacturing sector lost 100,000 jobs over the year, and the electricity, gas, and water supply industry saw a 26.1% annual decline in employment. While formal jobs decreased by 41,000, informal employment grew by 34,000, suggesting a shift toward less productive economic roles.

Economists attribute the rising unemployment to structural issues including slow economic growth, weak business confidence, infrastructure problems, and high operating costs, rather than immigration levels.