South Africa: Unemployment rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
The most recent value is 32.1 percent as of Q3 2024, a decline compared to the previous value of 33.5 percent. Historically, the average for South Africa from Q1 2008 to Q3 2024 is 27.46 percent. The minimum of 21.5 percent was recorded in Q4 2008, while the maximum of 35.3 percent was reached in Q4 2021. Click on the following link to see the values of: Unemployment rate around the world.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

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  • Measure: percent
  • Source: Statistics South Africa

Recent values South Africa: Unemployment rate, percent
2024  Q3 32.1
2024  Q2 33.5
2024  Q1 32.9
2023  Q4 32.1
2023  Q3 31.9
2023  Q2 32.6
2023  Q1 32.9
2022  Q4 32.7


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Definition: The unemployment rate represents the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Labor force 27.14 2023 million people
 Unemployment rate 27.99 2023 percent
 Female unemployment 29.87 2023 percent
 Male unemployment 26.32 2023 percent
 Youth unemployment 49.14 2023 percent
 Labor force participation 58.08 2023 percent
 Labor force: percent female 46.98 2023 percent
 Female labor force participation 52.38 2023 percent
 Male labor force participation 64.27 2023 percent
 Self-employment 28.99 2022 percent
 Informal employment 31.50 2020 percent
 Employment 16.95 Q3/2024 million employed people
 Unemployment rate 32.10 Q3/2024 percent
 Labor cost 150.70 Q2/2024 index points
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