South Africa’s official unemployment rate fell slightly in the third quarter of 2025, declining to 31.9% from 33.2% in the second quarter, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported. The number of unemployed people decreased to eight million between July and September, down from 8.3 million in the April-to-June period.
The number of employed people rose to 17.1 million, but millions of South Africans remain without work, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the labour market.
Six of the ten sectors tracked by Stats SA recorded employment gains in the latest quarter. Jobs were added in construction, community and social services, and trade, while manufacturing, finance, and utilities experienced job losses.
“The number of employed persons increased in eight provinces between Q2 and Q3 of 2025,” Stats SA said. “The largest employment gains were in the Western Cape (70,000), KwaZulu-Natal (54,000), Gauteng (51,000), North West (42,000), and Limpopo (40,000). The only province to see a decrease was the Eastern Cape, with 53,000 fewer employed persons.”
While the slight improvement offers cautious optimism, experts warn that unemployment remains a major economic challenge, with millions still seeking work across the country.
VOC News
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