Latest employment stats indicate that Black people are most affected by unemployment. Image: IOL
(The Post News)- South Africa’s unemployment issue continues to deepen; reports from the latest statistics reveal that Black communities remain affected by joblessness. StatsSA indicates that the unemployment rate among Black people stands at 37.1%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 33.2%.
South Africa’s unemployment rate went up to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025. It increased by a 0.3 percentage point from the 32.9% recorded in the first quarter, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
The latest employment stats indicate that the unemployment rate for Coloured people is 24%, while Indian/Asian South Africans sit at 15.1%. White South Africans face the lowest unemployment levels at just 8.2%, a stark contrast that underscores ongoing inequalities in the labor market.
The statistics covering trends from 2010 to 2025 show that Black communities are bearing the brunt of unemployment, while other groups remain below the national average. Economic analysts argue that these figures highlight the enduring structural challenges of South Africa’s economy. It includes skills mismatches, education disparities, and limited access to opportunities for the majority of the population.
Experts urge the government to take bold policy measures to address these imbalances, increasing poverty, inequality, and social unrest.
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