Despite June 30 demonstrations, unemployment climbs to 33.6% as Gauteng sheds 22 000 jobs
The official jobless rate rose in the second quarter of 2026, with Gauteng among the provinces recording the biggest drops in employment.
South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, up 0.9 of a percentage point from 32.7% in the previous quarter.
The number of unemployed people rose by 345 000 to 8.5m, while the number of employed people fell by 16 000 to 16.7m. This pushed the labour force up by 329 000.
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Gauteng recorded a decrease of 22 000 in employment over the same period. Youth unemployment also worsened.
The number of unemployed young people aged 15 to 34 increased by 264 000 to 5m, while employed youth dropped by 40 000 to 5.6m. The youth unemployment rate climbed 1.5 percentage points to 47.4%.
Other labour underutilisation measures showed the combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment at 36.6%, and the broader composite measure remaining at 46.3%.
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