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Mail & Guardian
unemployment ratelatest news & developments
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BUSINESS

Unemployment rate eases but structural crisis deepens

The decline brings the official rate to its lowest level since the Covid-19 shock pushed unemployment above 30%

  • Hasina Kathrada
4 min read
Youth unemployment in particular remains very high. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BUSINESS

South Africa’s unemployment rate eases to 31.4%

The employed population increased to 17.1 million, but youth unemployment rose to 43.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025

  • MG Reporter
1 min read
Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CAPITEC BANK

SA’s unemployment is not a statistical construct; it’s a real and painful hardship

For the millions of jobless people, this discussion is trivial

  • Eddie M Rakabe
6 min read
Fort Hare University, along with the Centre University of Technology, Free State, has been subjected to xenophobia accusations spread on social media. Photo: Supplied
CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Fort Hare University: Lies and xenophobia distract from the jobs crisis

State disinvestment in public services, infrastructure and manufacturing ensured that millions would remain trapped in cycles of poverty, with or without immigration

  • Leroy Maisiri
8 min read
File photo
CONSTRUCTION

SA’s unemployment rate edges up to 32.9%

Jobs were lost in the formal sector, as well as in trade, construction and private households

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
In the second quarter of 2025, unemployment edged up to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025 from 32.9% in the previous quarter, while of the 10.1 million people aged 15 to 24, 35.2% were not in employment
BUSINESS

Unemployment rate eases to 31.9% as four industries add jobs

This marks the second consecutive drop in the jobless rate, and the lowest since the third quarter of 2023

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Ringing true: Call centres have the potential to create many jobs in South Africa. Photo: Supplied
ARTICLE

Does South Africa’s call centre industry have the potential to combat unemployment?

Experts say many young people get into the industry out of sheer desperation

  • Anathi Madubela
5 min read
Zwelinzima Vavi. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
COSATU

Saftu calls for a national shutdown on Wednesday to protest against high cost of living

Rival labour federation Cosatu has also called for a national protest

  • Sonri Naidoo
3 min read
GAS HIKE

Sasol gas price hike ‘will hurt South African businesses, consumers’

Jump in price of gas to be challenged in court as controversy roils

  • Mandisa Makgakga
4 min read
Unemployment epidemic: These men, gathered together to wait for the possibility of a piece job, are some of the 34.9% of South Africans who are without work, the highest figure among 82 countries monitored by business news agency Bloomberg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ECONOMICS

Another record high as 7.9-million people remain jobless in South Africa

Record new high for unemployment in South Africa, as Stats SA releases jobs data for the fourth quarter of 2021

  • Anathi Madubela
2 min read
(John McCann/M&G)
COVID 19

Covid steals jobs, equality from women

PwC’s Women in Work Index says governments and businesses must tackle causes of inequality

  • Tshegofatso Mathe
3 min read
BNP PARIBAS

Rapid inoculation will decrease SA’s jobless rate

Research by retail bank BNP Paribas estimates that unemployment will linger for longer in emerging markets

  • Tshegofatso Mathe
3 min read
Government, labour, business and community have come up with a combined economic recovery plan amidst three others to help kickstart the economy. (Jacques Stander/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
ANC

Government misses the mark on the recovery plan

Government, labour, business and community have come up with a combined economic recovery plan amidst three others to help kickstart the economy. Some are new, while others are…

  • Tshegofatso Mathe
5 min read
Last week a student protest at the University of Zululand led to a police van being petrol bombed.
BLADE NZIMANDE

Students, your violence destroyed a man’s livelihood

While life goes on for the students at UniZulu, may they spare a thought for Ndumiso Ntsele whose only sin was to try to make an honest living in tough economic times

  • Bongekile Macupe
4 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa. (David Harrison/M&G)
ACE MAGASHULE

Sona will cast a spotlight on Ramaphosa (and the ANC’s) many problems

The president is facing challenges at every turn, among them the economy, the state of SOEs and factionalism within the ANC. Only if Ramaphosa and his party work together will…

  • Makhanda Ka Lima
6 min read
Massmart will be closing down many Game, Makro, DionWired and Builders Warehouse stores across South Africa.
BUILDERS WAREHOUSE

Mass store and job cuts at Massmart

Changed market conditions and an appalling economy has hit low end cash-and-carry outlets

  • Tshegofatso Mathe
5 min read