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[File photo] People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, US.
South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased by one percentage point to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025. This is according to data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The data shows an increase of 237 000 in the number of unemployed people, bringing the total to 8.2 million.
The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged work-seekers, also rose by 1.2 percentage points to 43.1% in the same period.
At provincial level, the North West recorded the highest expanded unemployment rate at 56%.
[WATCH] Stats SA has released its latest labour force data, showing a rise in South Africa’s unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2025. COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Mathew Parks weighs in on the latest figures. pic.twitter.com/Hgp2BdKnRF
— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 13, 2025
🧵#ZAunemployment || The official unemployment rate increased by 1,0 percentage point to 32,9% in Q1:2025 compared to Q4:2024.
Read more here: https://t.co/lO8z2dejxE#StatsSA #ZAemployment #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/919oKigqaO
— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) May 13, 2025
#ZAunemployment || NW (56,0%) recorded the highest expanded unemployment rate in Q1:2025, followed by MP (49,3%).
Read more here: https://t.co/lO8z2dejxE#StatsSA #ZAemployment #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/DSIJ2nR4vL
— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) May 13, 2025
