The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, climbed to 42.9%, leaving more than 8.3 million people officially unemployed and a staggering 25 million working-age South Africans currently not in any form of employment.

Source: IOL

By Hope Ntanzi

South Africa’s jobs bloodbath worsens as top employers shut down or cut thousands of jobs. Unemployment rises to 32.9%, with youth unemployment soaring above 46% and no relief in sight.

South Africa’s job blood bath continues unabated.

New data, released by Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, reveals a staggering loss of 291,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2025.

The formal sector was hit hardest: trade shed 194,000 jobs, construction lost 119,000, mining declined by 35,000, private households cut 68,000 positions, and community and social services fell by 45,000.

Some sectors defied the trend, with the informal sector adding 17,000 jobs and agriculture growing by 6,000.

As a result, the official unemployment rate jumped one percentage point to 32.9%, leaving 8.2 million South Africans without work.

The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers, climbed to 42.9%, leaving more than 8.3 million people officially unemployed and a staggering 25 million working-age South Africans currently not in any form of employment.

Youth unemployment remains particularly alarming, reaching 46.1% in 2025, with around 4.8 million young South Africans aged 15–34 out of work.

When including discouraged work-seekers, the expanded unemployment rate has climbed to 43.1%, indicating that nearly half of the working-age population is either unemployed or not actively seeking employment.