Youth and black women hardest hit as unemployment hits 33.7%

In the third quarter of 2026, South Africa's official unemployment rate rose to 33.7%, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa. Young people in the country continue to bear the brunt of this economic hardship, with their unemployment rate reaching 47.3%, a slight decrease from the previous quarter. However, Black African women face the most significant challenges in the labor market, with an unemployment rate of 52.9%, surpassing the national average.

Warwick Lucas, head of private clients at Vunani Securities, attributes the slow job growth in South Africa to the country's inadequate economic expansion. He states that even though the nation is experiencing a growth rate of over 1%, it is insufficient to create the necessary employment opportunities. Lucas emphasizes the need for more growth in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and small businesses, alongside existing infrastructure improvements.

The agricultural sector experienced a decline in employment during the third quarter, with a decrease in annual employment across most provinces, except the Western Cape and Limpopo. Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo attributes this to the vegetable and fruit production sectors in the two aforementioned provinces, which have been sustaining employment levels.

However, overall, the agricultural sector still has an employment level well above the long-term average, which typically sits around 800,000. Despite this, farmers face challenges in maintaining this resilient employment level.