unemployment ratelatest news & developments
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Unemployment rate eases but structural crisis deepens

The decline brings the official rate to its lowest level since the Covid-19 shock pushed unemployment above 30%

  • Stella Mapenzauswa
4 min read
Youth unemployment in particular remains very high. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

South Africa’s unemployment rate eases to 31.4%

The employed population increased to 17.1 million, but youth unemployment rose to 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SA’s unemployment is not a statistical construct; it’s a real and painful hardship

For the millions of jobless people, this discussion is trivial

  • Eyaaz
6 min read
Fort Hare University, along with the Centre University of Technology, Free State, has been subjected to xenophobia accusations spread on social media. Photo: Supplied

Fort Hare University: Lies and xenophobia distract from the jobs crisis

State disinvestment in public services, infrastructure and manufacturing ensured that millions would remain trapped in cycles of poverty, with or without immigration

8 min read
File photo

SA’s unemployment rate edges up to 32.9%

Jobs were lost in the formal sector, as well as in trade, construction and private households

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
In the second quarter of 2025, unemployment edged up to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025 from 32.9% in the previous quarter, while of the 10.1 million people aged 15 to 24, 35.2% were not in employment

Unemployment rate eases to 31.9% as four industries add jobs

This marks the second consecutive drop in the jobless rate, and the lowest since the third quarter of 2023

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Ringing true: Call centres have the potential to create many jobs in South Africa. Photo: Supplied

Does South Africa’s call centre industry have the potential to combat unemployment?

Experts say many young people get into the industry out of sheer desperation

  • Eyaaz
5 min read