South Africa Unemployment Rate Rises to 33.2% in Q2 2025

South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the highest level in a year and an increase from 32.9% in the previous quarter. The number of unemployed individuals increased to approximately 8.4 million, while employed persons grew slightly to 16.8 million, resulting in an overall labor force increase of about 159,000. Job losses were mainly seen in community and social services, agriculture, and finance sectors, while employment gains occurred in trade, private households, and construction. The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged work-seekers, slightly decreased to 42.9%. Despite the coalition government's focus on reducing unemployment, the jobless rate remains one of the highest worldwide, posing a significant challenge. Additionally, recent U.S. tariffs on South African exports have raised concerns, but their impact on employment figures remains unclear.