Recent Releases

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%
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 unemployment rate since 2004. Employment rose faster than unemployment while 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

South Africa Jobless Rate at Nearly 11-Year High in Q1
The unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 26.7 percent in the three months to March of 2016 from 24.5 percent in the previous quarter and above market expectations of 25.3 percent. It was the highest reading since September 2005, as number of unemployed rose by 10 percent whereas employment fell 2.2 percent.
Published on 2016-05-09

South Africa Jobless Rate Down to 24.5% in Q4
The unemployment rate in South Africa decreased to 24.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 25.5 percent in the previous period and below market expectations of 25.5 percent. It was the lowest reading since the last quarter of 2014, as number of unemployed went down by 4.2 percent to 5.2 million while employment went up at a slower 1.2 percent to 16 million.
Published on 2016-02-25

South Africa Unemployment Rises in Q3
The jobless rate in South Africa increased to 25.5 percent in the third quarter of 2015 from 25 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed rose 3.6 percent while employment went up at a slower 1.1 percent and more people joined the labour force.
Published on 2015-10-27

South Africa Unemployment Rate Falls in Q2
The jobless rate in South Africa decreased to 25 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from a ten-year high of 26.4 percent in the previous period, as more stopped looking for a job and employment went up 1.3 percent.
Published on 2015-07-29

South Africa Unemployment Rate Jumps to 10-Year High
South Africa jobless rate increased to 26.4 percent in the first three months of 2015 from 24.3 percent in the precedent quarter. It is the highest rate since 2005, as unemployment rose 12.8 percent on quarter, while employment grew at a slower 0.9 percent.
Published on 2015-05-26

South Africa Unemployment Rate Declines to 24.3% in Q4
South Africa jobless rate decreased to 24.3 percent in the last three months of 2014 from 25.4 percent in the previous quarter. It is the lowest rate in a year as employment rose for the third consecutive quarter and the labour force decreased.
Published on 2015-02-10

South Africa Unemployment Rate Marginally Unchanged
South African jobless rate was little changed at 25.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014 from 25.5 percent in the previous period. Yet, the number of people who stopped looking for a job increased 3.9 percent and the labor force participation rate fell 0.2 percent to 57.1 percent.
Published on 2014-10-30

South Africa Unemployment Rate Rises in Q2
South African jobless rate increased for the second straight quarter to 25.5 percent in the three months to June, up from 25.2 percent in the preceding period. The number of unemployed persons increased to its highest level since 2008.
Published on 2014-07-29

South Africa Unemployment Up to 25.2%
In the first quarter of 2014, South Africa’s jobless rate rose to 25.2 percent from 24.1 percent in the previous three months. There were 5.067 million people without work, up from 4.83 million in the preceding quarter, mainly due to job losses in agriculture, trade and transport.
Published on 2014-05-05

South Africa Unemployment Rate Falls in Q4 2013
In the last quarter of 2013, South African jobless rate slowed for the second straight quarter to 24.1 percent, from a revised 24.5 percent in the previous period. The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who stopped looking for work, was recorded at 34 percent.
Published on 2014-02-11

South Africa Unemployment Rate Down to 24.7% in Q3
In the third quarter of 2013, South African jobless rate decreased to 24.7 percent, the lowest value in almost two years. The number of people without work went down to 4.66 million, down from 4.72 million in the previous three months.
Published on 2013-10-29

South Africa Unemployment Rate At 2-Year High in Q2
In the second quarter of 2013, South African unemployment rate increased to 25.6 percent, the highest rate in two years. Between the first and the second quarters of 2013, the labour force increased by 222 000 persons, reflecting a rise in the number of both unemployed persons (122 000) and employed persons (100 000).
Published on 2013-07-30

South Africa Unemployment Rate Up to 25.2% in Q1 2013
The labour force increased by 144 000 persons between Q4 of 2012 and Q1 of 2013. This increase is reflected in an increase in the number of both unemployed persons (100 000) and employed person (44 000), which saw the unemployment rate increase by 0,3 of a percentage point from 24.9% to 25.2% in Q1 of 2013.
Published on 2013-05-06

South Africa Unemployment Rate Decreases to 24.9% in Q4 2012
The labour force decreased by 235 000 persons between the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2012. This decrease was reflected in a decrease in the number of both unemployed persons (166 000) and employed persons (68 000), which saw the unemployment rate decline by 0.6 of a percentage point from 25.5 percent to 24.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Published on 2013-02-05