South Africa Unemployment Rate Rises to 32.7 Percent in Q1
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter as 8.137 million people were without work. Job losses hit seven of the ten tracked sectors.
Xurve View
Xurve View
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The official jobless rate has remained above 30% for more than five years, among the highest globally. Persistent labor market weakness challenges the coalition government despite investor optimism regarding recent economic reforms and growth.
