South Africa’s unemployment rate edged higher in the third quarter, reinforcing pressure on the government to create jobs as the African National Congress (ANC) grapples with declining public support following its poor performance in last week’s municipal elections.
Read also: South Africa’s ANC suffers worst local election defeat as coalition talks begin
Data released on Tuesday by Statistics South Africa showed the official unemployment rate rose to 33.7 percent in the July to September period, from 33.6 percent in the previous quarter.
The marginal increase highlights the scale of the country’s jobs crisis, with unemployment remaining above 30 percent for six consecutive years. South Africa continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates globally, with women, young people and Black South Africans particularly affected.
The broader measure of unemployment, which includes people who have stopped looking for work because they believe no jobs are available, increased to 44 percent from 43.8 percent in the second quarter.
The latest figures come days after the ANC recorded its worst result in local government elections since the end of apartheid, securing 30.76 percent of the national vote, down from 45.59 percent in 2021. High unemployment, alongside the rising cost of living and poor public services, contributed to voter dissatisfaction with the party.
Read also: South Africans turn to side hustles, debt as living costs squeeze households
The ANC-led coalition government, formed after the 2024 national election, has prioritised economic reforms and efforts to improve growth, but job creation remains a major challenge. Although economic activity has shown a modest recovery, the improvement has not translated into sufficient employment opportunities.
Employment fell in three sectors during the quarter: private households, agriculture and construction. Finance, manufacturing and mining were among the industries that recorded job gains, according to the statistics agency.
The contrasting performance across sectors points to an uneven labour market, where gains in some industries have not been enough to offset job losses elsewhere.
The latest figures also raise questions about how quickly economic reforms can translate into improved living conditions. With unemployment remaining persistently high, the government faces pressure to expand opportunities for young people, strengthen labour-intensive industries and attract investment that supports sustainable job creation.
Read also: ANC support plunges in South Africa municipal elections as DA gains
For the ANC, the challenge is increasingly political as well as economic. Its declining electoral support reflects public frustration with the pace of change, and the latest unemployment figures underline the difficulty of restoring confidence while millions of South Africans remain without work.
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Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
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