# South African unemployment crisis

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-african-unemployment-crisis
> Updated: 2026-09-04T06:54:26.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 3.

In the second quarter of 2026, South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.6%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous quarter. This trend resulted in approximately 8.5 million unemployed individuals, with the number of unemployed people increasing by 345,000 during the quarter.

The crisis is particularly severe among youth, with the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 reaching 62.8% and those aged 25 to 34 reaching 41.8%. Significant job losses were recorded in the manufacturing sector and the electricity, gas, and water supply industry, while the community and social services sector shed 57,000 jobs.

Economists have attributed these rising figures to structural issues, including weak business confidence, infrastructure problems, high operating costs, and slow economic growth. 

Recent data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey highlights deepening vulnerabilities. The number of young people aged 15 to 34 who are unemployed has reached 47.4%. Additionally, 36.4% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 are now classified as NEET (not in employment, education, or training), a figure that increased by 1.2 percentage points in a single quarter. 

Gender disparities persist, with female unemployment at 37.5% compared to 30.3% for men. The National Youth Development Agency noted that these figures suggest an economy failing to create sufficient opportunities to absorb willing workers. Analysts also suggest that geopolitical tensions may exacerbate domestic issues by impacting inflation, shipping routes, and oil prices.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-04: South Africa unemployment rises to 33.6% as youth joblessness climbs

South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in Q2 2026, with youth unemployment (ages 15-34) hitting 47.4% and over a third of those aged 15-24 not in employment, education, or training.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-unemployment-rises-to-336-as-youth-joblessness-climbs

### 2026-09-02: Economic challenges rise in South Africa and the United Kingdom

South Africa faces a youth unemployment rate of nearly 63% amid a skills deficit, while UK startups struggle with lower survival rates and declining domestic venture capital investment.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/economic-challenges-rise-in-south-africa-and-the-united-kingdom

### 2026-08-12: South Africa unemployment rate rises to 33.6%

South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in Q2 2026, with youth unemployment (ages 15-24) hitting a severe 62.8% amid broader economic challenges and sector-specific job losses.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-unemployment-rate-rises-to-336

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Cite as: South African unemployment crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-african-unemployment-crisis