SA’s unemployment figure looks grim

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 11 original reports

1. Tue, 11 August 2026

   3 reports
   • it-online.co.za11:54first to report
     SA’s unemployment figure looks grim

     South Africa saw an increase of 345 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8,5-million according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q2: 2026 released today. During the period, there was a decrease of 16 000 in the number of employed persons to 16,7-million compared with Q1: 2026. This resulted in an […]

   • ewn.co.za14:18
     Stats SA says the country's female unemployment rate rises to 37.5% in Q2

     This means women continue to face a significantly higher unemployment rate than their male counterparts.

   • dailymaverick.co.za19:23
     SA unemployment rate rises to 33.6% as Iran war takes economic toll

     South Africa’s unemployment rate has remained over 30% for more than five years, with no signs of dropping below that ghastly threshold in the face of sluggish economic growth. But the unemployment st…

2. Wed, 12 August 2026

   1 report
   • AllAfrica09:43
     South Africa: South Africa's Jobs Crisis Deepens As 345,000 Join Unemployed

     [Scrolla] · South Africa's official unemployment rate rose from 32.7% to 33.6%, leaving about 8.5 million people officially without jobs.

3. Thu, 13 August 2026

   2 reports
   • AllAfrica12:15
     South Africa: Urgent Govt Action Urged As Unemployment Crisis Deepens

     [SAnews.gov.za] The Department of Employment and Labour has called for urgent and coordinated action to address South Africa's worsening employment crisis, following the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026.

   • mg.co.za13:11
     South Africa’s unemployment crisis deepens as jobless rate rises to 33.6%

     South Africa's unemployment rate has surged to 33.6%, with 8.5 million people now jobless. Youth unemployment is particularly dire at 47.4%, prompting the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) to call for urgent action against the deepening jobs crisis.

4. Fri, 14 August 2026

   1 report
   • AllAfrica07:16
     South Africa: Nearly Half of Young People Are Not Working or in Training

     [GroundUp] NEET rate for 15-34 year olds has risen from 38% to 45% since 2012

5. Thu, 20 August 2026

   1 report
   • Bloomberg Politics15:43
     South Africa Aims for 3% Growth to Curb Sky-High Unemployment

     South Africa is targeting economic growth of at least 3% by 2030 to stop unemployment from rising further, as it starts a new round of reforms to lure investment and create 1 million jobs.

6. Wed, 26 August 2026

   1 report
   • dailymaverick.co.za21:28
     SA’s future jobs demand occupational qualifications, not outdated credentials

     If South Africa is to beat its unemployment crisis, there needs to be a shift away from pre-2009 occupational qualifications to a new system that connects skills to employment, self-employment, entrep…

7. Mon, 7 September 2026

   1 report
   • dailydispatch.co.za07:31
     Including the marginalised in the economy must go further than just permits

     SA is deep in the throes of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The triple challenges are even more pronounced in our deeply rural province. This publication has reported on mothers killing their children and later taking their own lives due to poverty.

8. Tue, 8 September 2026

   1 report
   • Anadolu Agency (AA)18:12
     South African economy contracts 0.2% in second quarter, ending 6-quarter growth streak

     Mining, trade and manufacturing sectors drive contraction in second quarter