Unemployment edges up to 33.2% in the second quarter

South Africa's official unemployment rate has risen to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 32.9% in the previous quarter, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa. This marks the second consecutive quarterly increase in the unemployment rate.

The number of unemployed individuals grew by 140 000 to reach 8.4 million, while employment saw a modest increase of 19 000, bringing the total number of employed persons to 16.8 million. The labour force expanded by 159 000, or 0.6%, during this period.

Youth unemployment remains a critical issue, with the number of unemployed individuals aged 15–34 increasing by 39 000 to 4.9 million. Despite a rise in employed youth by 31 000 to 5.7 million, the youth unemployment rate remained unchanged at 46.1%.

By Nicola Mawson

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