South Africa Unemployment Rate  2000-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar

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. Unemployment Rate in South Africa averaged 25.52 percent from 2000 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 31.20 percent in the first quarter of 2003 and a record low of 21.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008.

South Africa Unemployment Rate
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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.

The number of unemployed persons went down by 330 thousand to 5.88 million from 6.21 million in the third quarter. Employment fell by 21 thousand to 16.17 million from 16.19 million in the previous period. Job losses occurred in the formal sector (-135 thousand) and in private households (-43 thousand), while gains ocurred in the informal sector (119 thousand) and in agriculture (39 thousand). 

The labour force declined by 351 thousand to 22.05 million from 22.40 million in Q3 and those detached from it advanced by 503 thousand to 15.47 million from 14.97 million. 

The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for work, decreased to 36.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 36.8 percent in the previous quarter.

A year earlier, the jobless rate was lower at 26.5 percent.


Statistics South Africa | Stefanie Moya | stefanie.moya@tradingeconomics.com
2/13/2018 9:56:38 AM


Recent Releases

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



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2017-08-07 07:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.7% 27.7% 27.8%
2017-10-31 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.70% 27.7% 28%
2018-02-13 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 26.7% 27.7% 27.7%
2018-06-01 10:30 AM Unemployment Rate 26.7% 28.0%
2018-08-07 07:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.8%
2018-10-31 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.0%


South Africa Labour Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Unemployment Rate 26.70 27.70 31.20 21.50 percent [+]
Employed Persons 9797000.00 9716000.00 9797000.00 3694977.00 [+]
Unemployed Persons 5880.00 6210.00 6214.11 3873.00 Thousand [+]
Labor Force Participation Rate 58.80 59.90 60.80 53.60 percent [+]
Labour Costs 146.50 146.40 146.50 1.10 Index Points [+]
Wages 20004.00 19608.00 20004.00 6742.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Wages in Manufacturing 17595.00 17023.00 17595.00 6250.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Population 55.91 54.96 55.91 17.40 Million [+]
Retirement Age Women 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 [+]
Retirement Age Men 60.00 60.00 65.00 60.00 [+]
Wages Low Skilled 3950.00 4210.00 4210.00 3790.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Youth Unemployment Rate 51.10 52.20 55.90 48.80 percent [+]
Wages High Skilled 21300.00 20200.00 21300.00 18900.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Living Wage Family 10300.00 10200.00 10300.00 9690.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Living Wage Individual 6460.00 6340.00 6460.00 6190.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Employment Rate 43.10 43.30 46.17 41.00 percent [+]


South Africa Unemployment Rate

In South Africa, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. This page provides - South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
26.70 27.70 31.20 21.50 2000 - 2017 percent Quarterly




unemployment rate by Country
Country Last
Spain 16.55 Dec/17
Brazil 12.60 Feb/18
Italy 10.90 Feb/18
Turkey 10.80 Jan/18
France 8.90 Dec/17
Euro Area 8.50 Feb/18
Canada 5.80 Mar/18
Australia 5.50 Mar/18
Indonesia 5.50 Sep/17
Russia 5.00 Mar/18
United Kingdom 4.20 Feb/18
United States 4.10 Mar/18
South Korea 4.00 Mar/18
China 3.90 Dec/17
Netherlands 3.90 Mar/18
India 3.52 Dec/17
Germany 3.50 Feb/18
Mexico 3.20 Feb/18
Switzerland 2.90 Mar/18
Japan 2.50 Feb/18


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