Unemployment
Labour force participation, jobless rates and employment trends across provinces.
9 datasets · Last updated 18 February 2026
Dataset update log
Unemployment
Quarterly
Last updated: 17 February 2026
Source: Stats SA
Release: Quarterly Labour Force Survey
Level: national
Recent history
Youth Unemployment
Quarterly
Last updated: 18 February 2026
Source: Stats SA
Release: Quarterly Labour Force Survey
Level: national
Recent history
Labour Force Participation
Quarterly
Last updated: 18 February 2026
Source: Stats SA
Release: Quarterly Labour Force Survey
Level: national
Recent history
National Unemployment Rate
0.5pp31.4%
from Q3 2025 (31.9%)
South Africa's official unemployment rate fell to 31.4% in Q4 2025 — the lowest since Q2 2022 — as 44,000 more people found work. The number of employed persons rose to 17.1 million. The expanded unemployment rate (including discouraged work-seekers) stands at 40.7%.
National Unemployment Rate has decreased by 3.1pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
Youth Unemployment (15–34)
0.9pp44.8%
from Q3 2025
Youth unemployment (ages 15–34) declined to 44.8% in Q4 2025. Among those aged 15–24, the rate stands at 61.4% — meaning roughly 6 in 10 young South Africans who want work cannot find it. South Africa's youth unemployment is among the highest globally.
Youth Unemployment (15–34) has decreased by 2.6pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
Labour Force Participation Rate
0.1pp42.7%
from Q3 2025
42.7% of working-age South Africans (ages 15–64) were either employed or actively seeking work in Q4 2025. This participation rate remains among the lowest globally, partly reflecting large numbers of discouraged work-seekers who have given up looking for jobs.
Labour Force Participation Rate has remained broadly stable at around 42.7%, with little change over the recent 12 periods.
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–34)
0.8pp45.5%
from Q3 2025
Narrow youth unemployment rate for those aged 15–34 who are without work, available for work, and actively seeking employment.
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–34) has decreased by 0.7pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–24)
0.6pp61.2%
from Q3 2025
Unemployment rate among 15–24 year olds — among the highest in the world. This cohort faces structural barriers including lack of experience, skills mismatch, and geographic concentration of youth outside economic centres.
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–24) has decreased by 2.7pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
Youth Unemployment — Expanded (15–34)
1.1pp60.8%
from Q3 2025
The expanded youth unemployment rate includes discouraged work-seekers — those who have given up actively looking for work. This is a more comprehensive measure of labour market distress among youth.
Youth Unemployment — Expanded (15–34) has decreased by 2.4pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
NEET Rate (15–24)
0.4pp37.2%
from 2024
Percentage of youth aged 15–24 who are Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET). This captures both unemployment and disengagement from the education system — a key indicator of social exclusion risk.
NEET Rate (15–24) is easing after elevated levels. The 2019–2025 trend shows a clear turning point around 2022.
Labour Force Participation Rate
0.4pp60.6%
from Q3 2025
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) is the percentage of the working-age population (15–64) that is economically active — either employed or actively looking for work. South Africa's LFPR remains among the lowest of comparable middle-income countries, partly due to high rates of discouragement.
Labour Force Participation Rate has increased by 1.4pp from Q1 2020 to Q4 2025 — a concern.
Female Labour Force Participation Rate
0.3pp55.2%
from Q3 2025
Labour force participation rate for women aged 15–64. The gender gap in participation (about 10 percentage points) reflects structural barriers including care responsibilities, transport access, and sectoral concentration.
Female Labour Force Participation Rate has increased by 1.1pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a concern.
Understanding the data
National Unemployment Rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from Q3 2025 (31.9%) to Q4 2025 (31.4%) — a positive development.
Over the 16-period dataset from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025, National Unemployment Rate has decreased by 3.1pp — a net improvement. The highest recorded value was 34.5% (Q1 2022) and the lowest was 31.4% (Q4 2025).
High unemployment in South Africa drives inequality, poverty, and social instability. At 31.4%, roughly 9% of the working-age population is excluded from formal economic participation. Youth unemployment is especially critical as prolonged joblessness early in a career has lasting effects on lifetime earnings and social mobility.
South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates globally among major economies. The official rate excludes "discouraged workers" — people who have given up searching — so the expanded rate typically runs 8–10 percentage points higher. The quarterly QLFS is the definitive source but is released with a 6–8 week lag. This figure is drawn from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q4 2025, published by Statistics South Africa.
Trend visualisations
National Unemployment Rate
Unit: %
National Unemployment Rate has decreased by 3.1pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
- Q1 2022: 34.5%
- Q4 2025: 31.4%
- Change: -3.1pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating downward
Youth Unemployment (15–34)
Unit: %
Youth Unemployment (15–34) has decreased by 2.6pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
- Q1 2022: 47.4%
- Q4 2025: 44.8%
- Change: -2.6pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating downward
Labour Force Participation Rate
Unit: %
Labour Force Participation Rate has remained broadly stable at around 42.7%, with little change over the recent 12 periods.
- Range: 42.5–43.3% over this period
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–34)
Unit: %
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–34) has decreased by 0.7pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
- Q1 2022: 46.2%
- Q4 2025: 45.5%
- Change: -0.7pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating downward
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–24)
Unit: %
Youth Unemployment Rate (15–24) has decreased by 2.7pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
- Q1 2022: 63.9%
- Q4 2025: 61.2%
- Change: -2.7pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating downward
Youth Unemployment — Expanded (15–34)
Unit: %
Youth Unemployment — Expanded (15–34) has decreased by 2.4pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a positive development.
- Q1 2022: 63.2%
- Q4 2025: 60.8%
- Change: -2.4pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating downward
NEET Rate (15–24)
Unit: %
NEET Rate (15–24) is easing after elevated levels. The 2019–2025 trend shows a clear turning point around 2022.
- Current level: 37.2% (2025)
- Period high: 41.2% (2020)
- Period low: 34.5% (2019)
- Total change since 2019: +2.7pp
Labour Force Participation Rate
Unit: %
Labour Force Participation Rate has increased by 1.4pp from Q1 2020 to Q4 2025 — a concern.
- Q1 2020: 59.2%
- Q4 2025: 60.6%
- Change: +1.4pp over 24 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating upward
Female Labour Force Participation Rate
Unit: %
Female Labour Force Participation Rate has increased by 1.1pp from Q1 2022 to Q4 2025 — a concern.
- Q1 2022: 54.1%
- Q4 2025: 55.2%
- Change: +1.1pp over 16 periods
- Recent momentum: accelerating upward
Data sources
Data Source
Statistics South Africa