Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Unemployment Rate South Africa

latest news & developments
Long reach: Unemployment is no longer a standalone crisis. It is increasingly tied to weak growth, declining living standards and persistent poverty. Photo: March to March
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR JOB LOSSES

SA recovery remains mainly jobless

The country lost 345 000 jobs in the first quarter of 2026 as unemployment climbed to 32.7%, exposing the gap between economic stabilisation and meaningful employment growth

  • Hasina Kathrada
7 min read
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says South Africa’s well-developed financial sector has the potential to be the continent’s powerhouse.
AFDB REPORT 2025

South Africa must unlock financial sector for growth, says African Development Bank

The AfDB says the country’s economy continues to underperform, weighed down by structural deficiencies that constrain the financial sector

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
3 min read