SA’s unemployment figure looks grimSouth Africa saw an increase of 345 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8,5-million according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q2: 2026 released today. This resulted in an increase of 329 000 (or 1,3%) in the labour force during the same period. These changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0,9 of a percentage point from 32,7% in the first quarter of 2026 to 33,6% in the second quarter of 2026. In addition to the unemployment rate (LU1), other indicators of labour underutilisation (LU) were measured. As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased by 1,5 percentage points to 47,4% in the second quarter of 2026.