The unemployment rate in South Africa rose to 27.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018 from 27.2 percent in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since the third quarter of 2017, as the number of unemployed increased by 127 thousand to 6.21 million. Meantime, the number of employed advanced by 92 thousand to 16.38 million. Unemployment Rate in South Africa averaged 25.60 percent from 2000 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 31.20 percent in the first quarter of 2003 and a record low of 21.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008.

South Africa Unemployment Rate
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South Africa Jobless Rate Highest in a Year


The unemployment rate in South Africa rose to 27.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018 from 27.2 percent in the previous period. It was the highest jobless rate since the third quarter of 2017, as the number of unemployed increased by 127 thousand to 6.21 million. Meantime, the number of employed advanced by 92 thousand to 16.38 million.

The number of unemployed grew by 127 thousand to 6.21 million from 6.08 million in the second quarter of the year. Employment increased by 92 thousand to 16.38 million from 16.29 million in the prior period. Job losses were recorded in the formal sector (-65 thousand), private households (-30 thousand) and in agriculture (-1) while gains ocurred in the informal sector (+188 thousand).

The labour force went up by 219 thousand to 22.59 million from 22.37 million in the previous quarter while those detached from dropped by 66 thousand to 15.40 million from 15.46 million.

The expanded definition of unemployment, including people who have stopped looking for work, rose to 37.3 percent in the third quarter of 2018 from 37.2 percent in the the second quarter.

A year earlier, the jobless rate was higher at 27.7 percent.


Statistics South Africa | Stefanie Moya | stefanie.moya@tradingeconomics.com
10/30/2018 9:46:16 AM


Recent Releases

South Africa Jobless Rate Rises to 27.2% in Q2
The unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 27.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018 from 26.7 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed rose by 103 thousand to 6.08 million while the number of employed fell by 90 thousand to 16.29 million.
Published on 2018-07-31

South Africa Jobless Rate Steady at 26.7% in Q1
South Africa's unemployment rate came in at 26.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018, unchanged from the previous period. The number of unemployed increased by 100 thousand to 5.98 million and the number of employed rose by 207 thousand to 16.38 million.
Published on 2018-05-15

South Africa’s Jobless Rate Falls to 26.7% in Q4
South Africa's unemployment rate decreased to 26.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 27.7 percent in the previous period. The number of unemployed fell by 330 thousand to 5.88 million and the number of employed declined by 21 thousand to 16.17 million.
Published on 2018-02-13

South Africa Jobless Rate Unchanged at 2004 High of 27.7%
South Africa's unemployment rate came in at 27.7 percent in the third quarter of 2017, the same as in the previous two quarters and remaining the highest rate in 13 years. The number of unemployed rose by 33 thousand to 6.21 million and the number of employed advanced by 92 thousand to 16.19 million.
Published on 2017-10-31



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-05-15 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 26.7% 26.7% 28.0%
2018-07-31 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.2% 26.7% 26.7%
2018-10-30 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 27.5% 27.2% 27.4%


South Africa Labour Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Unemployment Rate 27.50 27.20 31.20 21.50 percent [+]
Employed Persons 9748000.00 9817000.00 9817000.00 3694977.00 [+]
Unemployed Persons 6209.39 6082.50 6214.11 3873.00 Thousand [+]
Labor Force Participation Rate 59.50 59.10 60.80 53.60 percent [+]
Labour Costs 150.80 148.30 150.80 1.10 Index Points [+]
Wages 20176.00 19858.00 20176.00 6742.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Wages in Manufacturing 17674.00 17146.00 17674.00 6250.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Population 57.73 56.84 57.73 17.46 Million [+]
Retirement Age Women 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 [+]
Retirement Age Men 60.00 60.00 65.00 60.00 [+]
Wages Low Skilled 4380.00 3960.00 4380.00 3840.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Youth Unemployment Rate 52.80 53.70 55.90 48.80 percent [+]
Wages High Skilled 22600.00 20300.00 22600.00 19000.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Living Wage Family 11300.00 10700.00 11300.00 10700.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Living Wage Individual 6570.00 6140.00 6570.00 6140.00 ZAR/Month [+]
Employment Rate 43.10 43.10 46.17 41.00 percent [+]


South Africa Unemployment Rate

In South Africa, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. This page provides - South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Unemployment Rate - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
27.50 27.20 31.20 21.50 2000 - 2018 percent Quarterly




Country Last
South Africa 27.50 Sep/18
Spain 14.55 Sep/18
Brazil 11.90 Sep/18
Turkey 11.10 Aug/18
Italy 10.10 Sep/18
Argentina 9.60 Jun/18
France 9.10 Jun/18
Euro Area 8.10 Sep/18
Saudi Arabia 6.00 Jun/18
Canada 5.80 Oct/18
Indonesia 5.34 Jun/18
Australia 5.00 Oct/18
Russia 4.50 Sep/18
United Kingdom 4.10 Sep/18
South Korea 3.90 Oct/18
China 3.82 Sep/18
Netherlands 3.70 Oct/18
United States 3.70 Oct/18
Mexico 3.60 Sep/18
India 3.52 Dec/17
Germany 3.40 Sep/18
Switzerland 2.40 Oct/18
Japan 2.30 Sep/18
Singapore 2.10 Sep/18


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