Image: @moseskotaneinst/XSource: TwitterSOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's unemployment crisis is hitting women harder than men, according to the latest figures from Stats SA. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2026 showed the national unemployment rate climbed from 32.7% in Q1 to 33.6% in Q2, the highest rate anywhere in the world. Women carry a heavier burdenDuring a briefing on the report, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke drew attention to a structural barrier that holds women back even before they can accept a job offer. The rate for men currently sits at 44.9%, compared to just 34.2% for women. View video here:The gap between men and women in SA's labour marketMaluleke was direct about what those numbers mean in practice.