South Africa’s official unemployment rate climbed to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, a 1.3% rise from the previous quarter’s 31.4%. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Stats SA, the country lost 347,000 jobs, bringing the total number of employed individuals down to 16.8 million. Meanwhile, the ranks of the unemployed grew by 301,000, reaching 8.1 million people. Job losses were most prominent in the construction, transport, and social services sectors. Additionally, the number of discouraged work-seekers rose by 178,000 to nearly 4 million, reflecting a broader increase in those currently outside the active labour market.