Unemployment rises by 97 000 in the third quarter
Unemployment in the third quarter was 33.7%, up from 33.6% in the second quarter.
South Africa witnessed a rise in unemployment in the third quarter of 2026, with the number of jobless citizens growing by 97,000 to reach 8.6 million, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Stats SA. Despite 101,000 individuals securing employment during the same period, the unemployment rate climbed to 33.7%, up from 33.6% in the previous quarter.
The increase in unemployed people encompassed those who lost their jobs, individuals who were previously inactive but began seeking work without success, and newcomers to the labor market unable to find employment. Employment figures also rose by 101,000 to 16.8 million, while the potential labor force expanded by 0.8%. The rise in discouraged job-seekers, those who have stopped actively searching for work due to the scarcity of available positions, contributed significantly to this surge.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
