South Africa’s unemployment rate edged down in the fourth quarter of 2025, slipping to 31.40% from 31.90% in the previous quarter. The latest figure, covering the October–December period, marks a modest improvement from the third quarter of 2025, when the rate stood at 31.90%.
While unemployment remains elevated by international standards, the 0.5 percentage point decline suggests a slight firming in labour market conditions toward the end of the year. The update, released on 17 February 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers assessing the resilience of South Africa’s economy and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to support job creation.
