South Africa’s (SA) official unemployment rate rose slightly to 33.7% in the third quarter of 2026 from 33.6% in the second quarter, data from the statistics agency showed on Tuesday.
Statistics SA said the number of unemployed people increased to 8.578 million in July-September, compared to 8.481 million in April and June.
The official jobless rate has been above 30% for six years and is among the highest in the world.
Employment declined in three sectors in July and September, private households, agriculture and construction, while finance, manufacturing and mining were among the sectors that added jobs.
An expanded definition of unemployment rose to 44.0% in the third quarter from 43.8% previously, according to Stats SA.
The coalition government formed in 2024 has struggled to boost job creation despite prioritising economic reforms and achieving a modest pickup in growth.
–Reuters–
