South Africa’s Unemployment Rate Climbs to 33.6% in Q2 2026

South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 32.7% in the first quarter, according to data released by Statistics South Africa.

The number of unemployed people rose to 8.481 million between April and June, compared with 8.137 million during January to March.

South Africa’s official unemployment rate has remained above 30% for more than five years, placing it among the highest unemployment rates globally.

Employment declined across seven of the 10 sectors monitored by Statistics South Africa during the second quarter. The community and social services sector experienced the biggest decline in employment, followed by mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, employment increased in the trade, construction and finance sectors.

The expanded unemployment rate, which includes people who are available for work but are not actively seeking employment, also edged higher to 43.8%, compared with 43.7% in the previous quarter.

Young people and Black women continued to experience the highest levels of unemployment. The coalition government, formed in 2024, has faced challenges in increasing job creation despite economic reforms and modest economic growth.