South Africa's unemployment rate fell to 31.4% in Q4 2025, from 31.9% in the previous period, marking the second consecutive decline. This was the lowest reading since Q3 2020, as the number of unemployed fell by 172,000 to 7.8 million and employed individuals rose by 44,000 to 17.1 million. The labor force decreased by 128,000 to 24.9 million. The number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 320,000 in Q4 and those employed in the informal sector slipped by 293,000 over the same period. Seven of the 10 industries recorded job gains, led by community and social services (+46,000), construction (+35,000) and finance (+32,000). Conversely, declines occurred in trade (-98,000), manufacturing (-61,000), and mining (-5,000). The youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, eased slightly to 57% from 58.5% in Q3, but remains stubbornly high. source: Statistics South Africa

Unemployment Rate in South Africa decreased to 31.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 31.90 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in South Africa averaged 27.59 percent from 2000 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 35.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021 and a record low of 21.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. This page provides - South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in South Africa decreased to 31.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 31.90 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in South Africa is expected to be 32.30 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 31.80 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-11-11 09:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q3 31.9% 33.2% 32.7%
2026-02-17 09:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q4 31.4% 31.9% 31.7%
2026-05-12 09:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q1 31.4% 32.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 17099.00 17055.00 Dec 2025
Employment Rate 40.60 40.70 percent Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 59.30 59.70 percent Dec 2025
Population 63.10 63.02 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 7836.00 8007.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 31.40 31.90 percent Dec 2025
Wages 29490.00 29402.00 ZAR/Month Sep 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 24998.00 24464.00 ZAR/Month Sep 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 57.00 58.50 percent Dec 2025


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.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
31.40 31.90 35.30 21.50 2000 - 2025 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
South Africa Jobless Rate at Over 5-Year Low
South Africa's unemployment rate fell to 31.4% in Q4 2025, from 31.9% in the previous period, marking the second consecutive decline. This was the lowest reading since Q3 2020, as the number of unemployed fell by 172,000 to 7.8 million and employed individuals rose by 44,000 to 17.1 million. The labor force decreased by 128,000 to 24.9 million. The number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 320,000 in Q4 and those employed in the informal sector slipped by 293,000 over the same period. Seven of the 10 industries recorded job gains, led by community and social services (+46,000), construction (+35,000) and finance (+32,000). Conversely, declines occurred in trade (-98,000), manufacturing (-61,000), and mining (-5,000). The youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, eased slightly to 57% from 58.5% in Q3, but remains stubbornly high.
2026-02-17
South Africa Jobless Rate Falls to 31.9% in Q3
South Africa's unemployment rate eased to 31.9% in Q3 2025, the lowest level since Q4 2024, compared to 33.2% in Q2, marking the first decline this year. The number of unemployed fell by 360,000 to 8.1 million, the labor force dropped by 112,000 to 25.1 million, and employed individuals rose by 248,000 to 17.1 million. The expanded unemployment rate, including discouraged workers, fell to 42.4% from 43% in Q2. Six of ten industries recorded job gains, led by construction (+130,000 to 1.39 million), community (+116,000 to 3.988 million), and trade (+108,000 to 3.424 million), while losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-62,000 to 1.61 million) and finance (-54,000 to 2.93 million). Unemployment declined in seven of nine provinces, with the largest drops in Limpopo (-5.2 points to 29.8%), Free State (-2.3 points to 36.2%), and North West (-2 points to 38.1%). The youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell to a two-year low of 58.5% in Q3.
2025-11-11
South Africa Jobless Rate Up to 1-Year High, Tops Forecasts
South Africa's unemployment rate rose further to 33.2% in Q2 2025, from 32.9% in Q1 and slightly above market estimates of 33%. It was the highest jobless rate since Q2 2024, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 140,000 to a one-year high of 8.4 million while employed rose by 19,000 to 16.8 million. The expanded definition of unemployment, which includes those discouraged from seeking work, eased to 42.9% in Q2 from 43.1% in Q1. The number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 34,000, while employment in the informal sector declined by 19,000. The largest job gains were recorded in trade (+88,000), private households (+28,000), and construction (+20,000), while employment declined in community and social services (-42,000), agriculture (-24,000), finance (-24,000), transport (-15,000), utilities (-6,000), and manufacturing (-5,000). The youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, eased to 62.2% from 62.4%.
2025-08-12