JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s unemployment rate has eased slightly, decreasing by 0,5 percentage points in the last quarter of 2025.
Unemployment was recorded at 31,4 percent in the fourth quarter of last year - down from 31,9 percent in the third.
Forty-four thousand jobs were added, but this may be due to seasonal factors. While jobs were gained in agriculture and utilities, they were lost in mining and manufacturing.
According to the latest numbers by Statistics South Africa, a decrease of 172, 000 in the number of unemployed persons was also recorded, taking the number down to 7,8 million compared with the 2025 third quarter results.
READ | Unemployment Crisis | Unemployment rate drops form 33.2% to 31.9%
South African factories are also suffering, especially as more affordable manufactured goods from China flood many markets.
In his State of the Nation Address last Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted what he calls green shoots in the economy.
But former Statistician General, Pali Lehohla, has rejected that. He says the economy is simply not geared to create jobs.
Cosatu Spokesperson Zanele Sabela said they also cautiously welcomed the decrease.
“It is always welcome when there is a decrease in unemployment, however, we do caution considering that these are fourth quarter numbers. Normally, in the fourth quarter, you will see a decrease in unemployment due to an increase in economic activity around the festive season.”