While Workers’ Day commemorates workers’ rights and the roles of trade unions in the fight against apartheid, more than 30% of the country’s population remains unemployed. 

Economists and job seekers say the unemployment crisis is being driven by a mix of structural barriers and limited opportunities for entry into the labour market. 
 
Charmaine Samuels (38) from Bishop Lavis in Cape Town says she has never had a permanent job. 

“I have worked part-time as a cleaner and a property caretaker. I am currently unemployed. I have tried to get similar jobs, but I am facing challenges such as employers wanting me to have a driver’s licence for these positions,” she explains. 

Overwhelmed 

Samuels adds that she has never had enough money to further her studies, let alone to obtain a licence. 

“I feel overwhelmed and frustrated because, as an adult, I cannot take care of myself and have to seek help from my family. I feel like my entire life is stuck,” she says. 

Samuels adds that she has applied for more than 20 jobs since last year. 

“I have taken my CV to local shops and applied on online job sites, but I am still waiting for feedback. There are not enough opportunities for the unemployed in the country,” she says. 
 
In contrast, Jonathan Serengie (22), from Lavender Hill, believes opportunities exist but argues that companies must be more willing to train inexperienced youth. 

Serengie supports his mother and sister. 

Since matriculating, he has worked odd jobs, including gardening and at a recycling company. 

Optimistic 

For Serengie, Workers’ Day has ‘no meaning’ in his life, and like Samuels, he has struggled to secure permanent employment. 

“From Monday to Friday, I visit shopping centres and business parks to find out if they are hiring. I have applied for jobs on online sites, but still nothing,” he says. 

Serengie says some companies will only hire candidates with experience and qualifications. 

“We need these companies to give us a chance by providing training to those who are unemployed,” he adds. 

He says every day is a challenge. “I support my family. I have to put food on the table and pay bills. It is very difficult.” 

Despite this, Serengie remains optimistic.

“I believe there are enough jobs in the country, and I am going to continue to try my best to find one,” he says. 

Statistics 

According to Statistics SA, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that the unemployment rate was 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Furthermore, the survey noted that youth remain vulnerable in the labour market. 

It found that the largest increases in employment were recorded in community and social services, construction and finance, while decreases were recorded in trade, manufacturing and mining.  

The biggest employment declines were recorded in Gauteng, KZN and the Eastern Cape, while increases were noted in the Western Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape. 

Causes of unemployment 

 Labour expert Michael Bagraim describes the figures as destructive and warns they could lead to insurrection.  

He argues that the cause is structural, claiming the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (75 of 1997) and the Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995) protect existing employees but hinder new job creation. 

“The bargaining council system is acting as a handbrake on small businesses, preventing them from growing. Other legislation, such as BEE, is also a hindrance to small business growth,” he explains. 

Bagraim adds that, in his view, South Africa’s labour relations legislation and regulations are largely designed negatively. 

Small businesses  

He says the easiest way for government to address unemployment is to encourage small businesses to grow by deregulating and exempting them from much of the negative legislation and regulations. 

“Economists around the world tell us that job creation in the modern economy comes from the small business sector. We need to encourage and assist this sector,” he says. 

He adds that labour regulations can be changed quickly and at little cost to government. 

“This can be done in a matter of weeks and will immediately encourage small businesses to open their doors and invest in growing their operations,” says Bagraim 

Lack of economic growth 

He also says the education system is not producing young adults who are fit for purpose. 

“The education system needs to consult with the business community so that people leave school with the ability to immediately engage in the private sector,” says Bagraim. 

Dawie Roodt, the chief economist at the Efficient Group, says the high levels of unemployment are due to a lack of economic growth. 

“The ANC is standing in the way of economic growth due to the wrong ideologies, policies, corruption and incompetence. We also have labour legislation, labour organisations and weak levels of skills development, which are contributing factors,” says Roodt. 

Fix policies 

He believes that, for the country to make progress, government needs to fix these policies and remove labour legislation that is standing in the way of job creation. 

“Unemployment is a major problem in our country. We are not going to see any meaningful improvement in job creation because the economy is not expected to grow this year and probably not next year either,”adds Roodt. 

He says the focus needs to be on economic growth. 

“Once we grow the economy, jobs will be created,” he adds.

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