Unemployment rate · South Africa
South Africa Unemployment Rate
The South Africa Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in South Africa, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.
- Importancia
- Medium
- Publicado
- Quarterly
- Próxima publicación
- Divisa
- ZAR · South African rand
- Banco central
- The South African Reserve Bank
Últimas cifras
El último dato, de Q2, se publicó el 2026-08-11 y fue 33.6%. Es más que 32.7% la vez anterior.
En las últimas 7 publicaciones osciló entre 31.4% y 33.6%, con una media de 32.5%. Ha subido tres publicaciones seguidas.
| Publicado | Para | Real | Consenso | Anterior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2026 | Q2 | 33.6% | – | 32.7% |
| 12 May 2026 | Q1 | 32.7% | – | 31.4% |
| 17 Feb 2026 | Q4 | 31.4% | – | 31.9% |
| 11 Nov 2025 | Q3 | 31.9% | – | 33.2% |
| 12 Aug 2025 | Q2 | 33.2% | 33% | 32.9% |
| 13 May 2025 | Q1 | 32.9% | – | 31.9% |
| 18 Feb 2025 | Q4 | 31.9% | – | 32.1% |
Por qué importa
Full employment is part of most central banks' mandate. A falling unemployment rate means a tighter labour market, faster wage growth and more inflation pressure, which can keep the South African Reserve Bank hawkish; a rising rate is one of the clearest recession signals (the US "Sahm rule" flags a 0.5-point rise in the three-month average).
Cómo se calcula
Statistics South Africa usually runs a household survey: people are counted as unemployed if they had no work, were available and looked for a job recently. The rate is unemployed ÷ (employed + unemployed). Registered jobless and claimant counts instead count people signed on for benefits. Participation is the labour force ÷ working-age population.
Unemployment rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100
Labour force = employed + unemployedQué significan los cambios
- A lower rate than expected usually supports the South African rand.
- Check participation: unemployment can fall because people stop looking, which is not good news.
- Broader measures (US U-6) include part-timers who want more hours.
Mayor de lo esperado: A higher unemployment rate than expected points to a weakening labour market: the South African rand tends to soften as markets price in lower rates.
Menor de lo esperado: A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the South African rand and push bond yields up.
Una breve historia
Systematic unemployment statistics began in the 1930s Depression; the International Labour Organization's definition, adopted in 1982, is used by most countries today.
Preguntas
What is the South Africa Unemployment Rate?
The South Africa Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in South Africa, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.
What was the latest South Africa Unemployment Rate?
33.6% for Q2, published on 11 August 2026.
When is the next South Africa Unemployment Rate?
On Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 09:00 UTC.
Solo contenido educativo, no asesoramiento de inversión. Las cifras son los resultados publicados según los registra nuestro calendario; las reacciones del mercado descritas son típicas, no garantizadas.