A large cohort of unemployed young people represents lost productive capacity for the economy.
For many young South Africans, unemployment is no longer simply a period between leaving school and finding a first job. Increasingly, it is becoming a defining feature of early adulthood.
Statistics South Africa's latest labour market data shows that 4.7 million people aged between 15 and 34 were unemployed in the first quarter of 2026, while a further 10.6 million were outside the labour force altogether.
More than four in ten young people aged 15 to 34 were not in employment, education or training. These figures show a generation struggling to find a foothold in the economy.
Among those aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate was at 60.9% in the first quarter, while unemployment among those aged 25 to 34 reached more than 40%. The broader youth unemployment rate, covering people aged 15 to 34, stood at 45.8%.
