News

South Africa Jobless Rate Hits New Record High
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.6% in the first quarter of 2021 from 32.5% in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since comparable data began in 2008. The number of unemployed persons increased by 8 thousand to 7.2 million, employment fell by 28 thousand to 15 million and the labour force went down by 20 thousand to 22.2 million. Total employment fell mostly in construction (-87 thousand), trade (-84 thousand), private households (-70 thousand), transportation services (-40 thousand) and agriculture (-18 thousand), but it rose sharply in financial services (+215 thousand). The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was at 43.2%, up from 42.6% in the prior period. Also, the youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, hit a new record high of 63.3%.
Published on 2021-06-01

South Africa Jobless Rate Hits Record High in Q4
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 30.8% in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since comparable data began in 2008, with more people entering the labour market and actively looking for jobs. Still, the market is not creating sufficient jobs to absorb enough people of working age into employment. The number of unemployed persons increased by 701 thousand to 7.2 million, employment rose by 333 thousand to 15 million and the labour force went up by 1 million to 22.3 million. Total employment rose mostly in community and social services (+170 thousand), construction (86 thousand) and private households (+76 thousand), but it fell in finance (-123 thousand) and mining (-35 thousand). The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was at 42.6%, down from 43.1% in the prior period.
Published on 2021-02-23

South Africa Jobless Rate Hits Record High in Q3
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 30.8% in the third quarter of 2020 from 23.3% in the previous period, though below market expectations of 33.4%. It was the highest jobless rate since quarterly data became available in 2008, with more people searching for work amid the easing of lockdown restrictions. The number of unemployed people rose by 2.2 million to 6.5 million, employment went up by 543 thousand to 14.7 million and the labour force increased by 2.8 million to 21.2 million. Total employment only decreased in utilities (-23 thousand) and transportation (-7 thousand), but rose mostly in trade (62 thousand), finance (200 thousand), community and social services (137 thousand) and private households (116 thousand). The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was at 43.1%, up from 42% in the prior period.
Published on 2020-11-12

South Africa Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls to 11-Year Low
South Africa's unemployment rate fell to 23.3% in the second quarter of 2020 from 30.1% in the previous period. It was the lowest jobless rate since the second quarter of 2009, as the country's strict lockdown distorted labour force numbers with fewer people actively looking for employment. Accordingly, labour force decreased by 5 million to 18.4 million and the number of unemployed declined by 2.8 million to 4.3 million. Meantime, employment fell by 2.2 million to 14.1 million, the most since the survey began in 2008. Total employment dropped across all of the 10 industries, with the largest decreases recorded in community and social services (-515 thousand), followed by trade (-373 thousand), private households (-311 thousand), finance (-283), construction (-278), manufacturing (-250 thousand) and transport (-110 thousand). The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was at 42%, up from 39.7% in the prior period.
Published on 2020-09-29

South Africa Q1 Jobless Rate Jumps to Record High
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 30.1 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 29.1 percent in the previous period and above market expectations of 29.7 percent. It was the highest jobless rate on record since quarterly data became available in 2008, as the number of unemployed people increased by 344 thousand to an all-time high of 7.1 million. Employment fell by 91 thousand to 16.38 million from 16.42 million in the prior quarter. Total employment dropped in 7 out of the 10 industries, with the largest declines recorded in the finance industry (-50 thousand), followed by community and social services (-33 thousand), agriculture (-21 thousand), transport (-17 thousand), manufacturing (-15 thousand), construction (-7 thousand), and utilities (-4 thousand). The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was at 39.7 percent, up from 38.7 percent in the prior period.
Published on 2020-06-23

South Africa Jobless Rate Steady at 11-Year High
South Africa's unemployment rate held steady at 29.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, unchanged from the previous month's 11-year high, as the number of unemployed people dropped only by 8 thousand to 6.7 million. Employment increased by 45 thousand to 16.42 million from 16.38 million in the prior period, likely influenced by the festive season. Total employment went up in six of the 10 industries, with the largest increases recorded in community and social services (113 thousand), followed by finance (76 thousand) and transport (36 thousand). Declines were recorded in the trade (-159 thousand), manufacturing (-39 thousand) and utilities (-14 thousand) sectors, as a result of severe power cuts. The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for a work, was 38.7 percent, up slightly from 38.5 percent in the previous quarter. Also, the youth unemployment rate dropped to 58.1 percent from 58.2 percent in the previous period.
Published on 2020-02-11

South Africa Jobless Rate at Over 11-Year High
The unemployment rate in South Africa edged up to 29.1 percent in the Q3 2019, its highest level since comparable data began in Q1 2008, matching market expectations. The number of unemployed rose by 78 thousand to 6.73 million while employment increased by 62 thousand to 16.38 million. A year earlier, the jobless rate was lower at 27.5 percent.
Published on 2019-10-29

South Africa Jobless Rate Highest since 2003
The unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 29 percent in the second quarter of 2019 from 27.6 in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since the first quarter of 2003, as the number of unemployed rose by 455 thousand to 6.65 million and employment rose by 21 thousand to 16.31 million. A year earlier, the jobless rate was lower at 27.2 percent.
Published on 2019-07-30

South Africa Jobless Rate at 1-1/2-Year High of 27.6%
The unemployment rate in South Africa rose to 27.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019 from 27.1 percent in the previous period. It is the highest jobless rate since Q3 2017, as the number of unemployed went up by 62 thousand to 6.20 million and employment fell by 237 thousand to 16.29 million. The unemployment rate usually rises in the first quarter of the year, as temporary staff hired to work over the busy festive season is dismissed. However, a year earlier, the jobless rate was lower at 26.7 percent.
Published on 2019-05-14

South Africa Jobless Rate Drops to 27.1% in Q4
The unemployment rate in South Africa decreased to 27.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 from 27.5 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed went down by 70 thousand to 6.14 million and employment rose by 149 thousand to 16.53 million. The unemployment rate usually falls in the last quarter of the year, due to higher job activity during the festive season. However, a year earlier, the jobless rate was lower at 26.7 percent.
Published on 2019-02-12

South Africa Jobless Rate Highest in a Year
The unemployment rate in South Africa rose to 27.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018 from 27.2 percent in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since the third quarter of 2017, as the number of unemployed increased by 127 thousand to 6.21 million. Meantime, the number of employed advanced by 92 thousand to 16.38 million.
Published on 2018-10-30

South Africa Jobless Rate Rises to 27.2% in Q2
The unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 27.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018 from 26.7 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed rose by 103 thousand to 6.08 million while the number of employed fell by 90 thousand to 16.29 million.
Published on 2018-07-31

South Africa Jobless Rate Steady at 26.7% in Q1
South Africa's unemployment rate came in at 26.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018, unchanged from the previous period. The number of unemployed increased by 100 thousand to 5.98 million and the number of employed rose by 207 thousand to 16.38 million.
Published on 2018-05-15

South Africa’s Jobless Rate Falls to 26.7% in Q4
South Africa's unemployment rate decreased to 26.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 27.7 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed fell by 330 thousand to 5.88 million and the number of employed declined by 21 thousand to 16.17 million.
Published on 2018-02-13

South Africa Jobless Rate Unchanged at 2004 High of 27.7%
South Africa's unemployment rate came in at 27.7 percent in the third quarter of 2017, the same as in the previous two quarters and remaining the highest rate in 13 years. The number of unemployed rose by 33 thousand to 6.21 million and the number of employed advanced by 92 thousand to 16.19 million.
Published on 2017-10-31

South Africa Jobless Rate Unchanged at 27.7% in Q2
South Africa's unemployment rate came in at 27.7 percent in the second quarter of 2017, unchanged from the previous period's 13-year high. The number of unemployed fell by 37 thousand to 6.18 million while the number of employed declined by 113 thousand to 16.10 million.
Published on 2017-08-07

South Africa Jobless Rate At 13-Year High Of 27.7%
The unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 27.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017 from 26.5 percent in the previous period. It is the highest jobless rate since the first quarter of 2004 as unemployment rose faster than employment and more people joined the labour force.
Published on 2017-06-01

South Africa Unemployment Rate Down To 26.5% In Q4
The jobless rate in South Africa fell to 26.5 percent in the last three months of 2016 after reaching a 12-1/2-year high of 27.1 percent in the previous period. Employment rose while unemployment fell and more people continued to join the labour force, bringing the participation rate up to a new high since 2002.
Published on 2017-02-14

South Africa Unemployment Rate Rises to 12-1/2-Year High
The jobless rate in South Africa went up to 27.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016 from 26.6 percent in the previous period, reaching the highest since 2004. Employment rose faster than unemployment but more people joined the labour force, bringing the participation rate up to its highest since 2002.
Published on 2016-11-22

South Africa Jobless Rate Edges Down to 26.6% in Q2
South Africa's unemployment rate slightly decreased to 26.6 percent in the June quarter of 2016 from 26.7 percent in the three months to March. The number of unemployed fell by 1.6 percent and employment went down 0.8 percent.
Published on 2016-07-28