Story perspectives

South Africa's Unemployment Dips Slightly Amid Youth Crisis

2/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

South Africa's unemployment rate decreased to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 31.9% in the third quarter, as reported by Statistics South Africa.
This decline resulted from job gains in community services and construction, providing a slight improvement for the struggling economy.
The Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) criticized the government for relying on temporary jobs and noted that youth unemployment rose to 43.8%.
Misa's CEO, Martlé Keyter, urged the government to implement policies that promote sustainable, permanent employment to aid economic recovery.

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Story summary

South Africa's unemployment rate decreased to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 31.9% in the third quarter, as reported by Statistics South Africa.
This decline resulted from job gains in community services and construction, providing a slight improvement for the struggling economy.
The Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) criticized the government for relying on temporary jobs and noted that youth unemployment rose to 43.8%.
Misa's CEO, Martlé Keyter, urged the government to implement policies that promote sustainable, permanent employment to aid economic recovery.