South Africa kisses 361,000 jobs goodbye

South Africa’s official unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, which means the country lost 361,000 jobs in 2026.

This was revealed in Statistics South Africa’s latest data, which stated that the number of unemployed people increased from 8.137 million to 8.481 million.

The official jobless rate in South Africa has been above 30% for more than five years and is among the highest in the world.

The expanded definition of unemployment rose to 43.8% in the second quarter, up from 43.7% previously.

Job losses were broad-based, with employment declining in seven of the 10 sectors tracked by Stats SA.

The community and social services sector recorded the largest job losses in the second quarter, followed by mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

The trade, construction, and finance sectors saw increases in employment. However, these were moderate and did not move the overall needle.

ActionSA said that it was concerned by the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa.

“It showed that 361,000 fewer South Africans were employed at the end of the first half of 2026 than at the start of the year,” it said.

“This follows a loss of 345,000 employed persons in the first quarter and a further decline of 16,000 in the second quarter.”

“Fewer than four in every ten working-age South Africans are employed, with the employment-to-working-age-population ratio falling to just 39.6%.”

It added that the manufacturing sector has shed 100,000 jobs over the past year, a 6% decline. This, it was, was particularly concerning.

Manufacturing provides productive, higher-value employment and supports extensive supply chains for smaller businesses and workers.

“The Government of National Unity has failed to address the conditions driving businesses out of the market and investment away from productive activity,” it said.

“While millions of South Africans are unable to find work, the GNU remains consumed by internal battles, political horse-trading and disagreements.”

“Ministers continue to enjoy and abuse the privileges of office while South Africans are expected to endure an unemployment crisis that has persisted for years.”