South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased for the first time in 2024, dropping to 32.1% in the third quarter from 33.5% in the previous quarter, according to official statistics. This marks the first decline in joblessness since the third quarter of 2023. The country has long struggled with high unemployment, particularly among women and youth.
During the third quarter, the number of employed individuals increased by 294,000, while the number of unemployed decreased by 373,000. Job gains were reported in sectors such as community and social services, construction, trade, mining, and transport. Despite this improvement, youth unemployment remains high, though it slightly decreased from 46.6% in the second quarter to 45.5% in the third quarter.
South Africa’s economy faces significant structural challenges and weak growth, limiting the government’s capacity to tackle inequality and poverty. These issues affect over 60% of the population and remain persistent obstacles for the country.
