South Africa · Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Stats SA) · NSA
South Africa unemployment rate (QLFS, official): 33.6% in 2Q 2026, up from 32.7% in 1Q 2026.
Next release: 10 Nov 2026.
The share of the labour force without a job and looking for one, from the official labour statistics.
| Period | First print | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2Q 2026 | — | 33.6% | +0.9 |
| 1Q 2026 | — | 32.7% | +1.3 |
| 4Q 2025 | — | 31.4% | −0.5 |
| 3Q 2025 | — | 31.9% | −1.3 |
| 2Q 2025 | — | 33.2% | +0.3 |
| 1Q 2025 | — | 32.9% | +1.0 |
| 4Q 2024 | — | 31.9% | −0.2 |
| 3Q 2024 | — | 32.1% | −1.4 |
| 2Q 2024 | — | 33.5% | +0.6 |
| 1Q 2024 | — | 32.9% | +0.8 |
| 4Q 2023 | — | 32.1% | +0.2 |
| 3Q 2023 | — | 31.9% | −0.7 |
Source: Statistics South Africa (Stats SA); the rates shown are Chartlas calculations from the published indices