South Africa’s unemployment crisis deepened in the first quarter of 2026, with 8.1 million people now unemployed, according to the latest figures released by Statistics South Africa.
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, published by Stats SA this week, shows that the country’s official unemployment rate increased from 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026.
The rise follows a significant decline in employment levels across the country. Stats SA reported that the number of employed people decreased by 345,000 during the reporting period, worsening pressure on an already strained labour market.
In its official statement, the agency said: “This result is a decrease of 44,000 in the labour force during the same period.”
The report also highlighted a sharp increase in discouraged work-seekers — people who have stopped actively searching for employment because they believe there are no job opportunities available.
According to Stats SA, the number of discouraged work-seekers rose by 178,000, bringing the total to 3.9 million people.
Other available job-seekers increased by 55,000 to 910,000, while unavailable job-seekers rose slightly by 6,000 to 49,000.
Stats SA said these changes resulted in “a total net increase of 240,000 to 4.9 million in the potential labour force population.”
The latest figures underscore the growing economic pressure facing South Africa as millions of people continue struggling to find work amid slow economic growth, rising living costs and ongoing financial uncertainty.
