According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate in South Africa decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025 to 31.4% in the fourth quarter. This decrease is notable as it reflects positive changes in employment figures, with an increase of 44,000 employed persons bringing the total to 17.1 million, and a decrease of 172,000 unemployed persons, resulting in a total of 7.8 million unemployed individuals.

The survey also highlighted a decrease in the labour force by 128,000, illustrating shifts in the dynamics of the job market in South Africa. This includes a significant increase in discouraged job-seekers, who are individuals that have given up looking for work, rising by 233,000 to a total of 3.7 million. Meanwhile, the number of other available job-seekers decreased, indicating varying levels of active job search among the population.

These statistics not only provide insight into the current state of employment in South Africa but also point to underlying challenges in the labour market, particularly with the rise of discouraged job-seekers. As the potential labour force population has increased to 4.6 million, the ongoing economic factors influencing job availability and job-seeker motivation will be crucial for policymakers and stakeholders to address going forward.