South Africa’s unemployment rate drops slightly as 248,000 new jobs created

South Africa’s unemployment rate has dropped slightly by 1.3% in the third quarter of 2025, with 248,000 new jobs created between July and September.

According to Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke, the country now has 17.1 million employed people and 8 million unemployed.

The official unemployment rate is 31.9%.

Most of the new jobs were created in the construction sector, particularly within the informal economy, which added around 130,000 positions.

Community and social services followed, while trade also added a significant number.

Smaller increases were also recorded in mining, agriculture, and private households, showing modest signs of recovery across several industries.

However, deep inequalities persist.

"When you look at our spatial structure in the country, Black Africans are relatively far away from urban centres. Compare them with the white population group, the coloured population group and the Indian, Asian population groups, who are usually closer to city centres and urban centres. So, they are able to take up employment. Whereas the Black Africans are relatively in far-flung areas, which contributes largely. So, what you see in the apartheid spatial arrangement is still prevalent in our country," says Maluleke.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape was the only province to lose jobs this quarter, shedding about 53,000 posts, mainly in manufacturing, utilities, and transport.

To listen to Risenga Maluleke in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk's Mandy Wiener, click the audio below: