Section 02 · Labour

The lived market — every figure traceable

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (P0211) is the only source we use for employment status. We display the headline indicators released by the Statistician-General.

Stocks

Who is in the labour market right now

17.1 million
Total employed
8.0 million
Unemployed (strict)
25.1 million
Labour force
4.5 million
Potential labour force
Rates

Headline rates and underutilisation

31.9%
Official unemployment rate
59.7%
Labour-force participation rate
42.4%
Combined unemployment & potential LF (LU3)
44.9%
Composite labour underutilisation (LU4)
Movement

Quarter-on-quarter change

+248,000
Quarter-on-quarter employment change
−360,000
Quarter-on-quarter change in unemployed
In development

Youth & demographic cuts (placeholder view)

Notice

Figures marked Placeholder are illustrative only. They are shown to indicate the shape of analysis the JSSA will publish once a verifiable public source is in place. They are not Stats SA, DHET or National Treasury figures.

Placeholder
~45%
Youth (15–34) unemployment rate
Illustrative only · awaiting verified source
Placeholder
~3.4m
NEET — not in employment, education or training
Illustrative only · awaiting verified source
Placeholder
~36%
Women's unemployment rate
Illustrative only · awaiting verified source